Public Health Research Agenda Research Articles

Knowledge gaps in existing research exploring sexual fluidity and mental health among young adults

While there is a large body of evidence indicating that sexual minority youth experience inequitably high rates of mental health problems (eg, depression, suicidality), we know little about how temporal...

Policy options and practical recommendations for determining priorities in public health research agendas in peripheral countries: insights from a collaborative work initiative in Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Policy options and practical recommendations for determining priorities in public health research agendas in peripheral countries: insights from a collaborative work initiative in Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Priority setting to support a public health research agenda: a modified Delphi study with public health stakeholders in Germany

BackgroundResearch priority setting (RPS) studies are necessary to close the significant gap between the scientific evidence produced and the evidence stakeholders need. Their findings can make resource allocation in research more efficient. However, no general framework for conducting an RPS study among public health stakeholders exists. RPS studies in public health are rare and no such study has been previously conducted and published in Germany. Therefore, we aimed to investigate which research topics in public health are prioritised by relevant stakeholders in Germany.MethodsOur RPS study consisted of a scoping stage and a Delphi stage each split into two rounds. Firstly, we invited members of the German Public Health Association to gather expert insights during two initial workshops. Next, we defined the relevant stakeholder groups and recruited respondents. Thereafter, we collected research topics and assessment criteria with the respondents in the first Delphi round and aggregated the responses through content analysis. Finally, we asked the respondents to rate the research topics with the assessment criteria in the second Delphi round.ResultsIn total, 94 out of the 140 invited public health organisations nominated 230 respondents for the Delphi study of whom almost 90% participated in both Delphi rounds. We compiled a comprehensive list of 76 research topics that were rated and ranked by several assessment criteria. We split the research topics into two types, substantive research topics and methodological-theoretical research topics respectively, to ensure the comparability among the research topics. In both types of research topics—substantive research topics and methodological-theoretical research topics—the respective top five ranked research topics hardly differed between public health researchers and public health practitioners. However, clear differences exist in the priority ranking of many (non-top priority) research topics between the stakeholder groups.ConclusionsThis research demonstrates that it is possible, with limited resources, to prioritise research topics for public health at the national level involving a wide range of pertinent stakeholders. The results can be used by research funding institutions to initiate calls for research projects with an increased relevance for health and/or scientific progress.

Defining "Arts Participation" for Public Health Research.

Arts participation has been linked to positive health outcomes around the globe. As more research is taking place on this topic, there is heightened need for definitions for the complex concepts involved. While significant work to define "arts participation" has taken place in the arts sector, less work has been undertaken for the purpose of researching the arts in public health. This study developed a definition for "arts participation" to guide a national arts in public health research agenda and to advance and make more inclusive previous work to define the term. A convergent mixed-methods study design with sequential elements was used to iteratively develop a definition that integrated the perspectives of field experts as well as the general public. Literature review was followed by four iterative phases of data collection, analysis, and integration, and a proposed definition was iteratively revised at each stage. The final definition includes modes, or ways, in which people engage with the arts, and includes examples of various art forms intended to frame arts participation broadly and inclusively. This definition has the potential to help advance the quality and precision of research aimed at evaluating relationships between arts participation and health, as well as outcomes of arts-based health programs and interventions in communities. With its more inclusive framing than previous definitions, it can also help guide the development of more inclusive search strategies for evidence synthesis in this rapidly growing arena and assist researchers in developing more effective survey questions and instruments.

The Next Infodemic: Abortion Misinformation

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an infodemic as the proliferation of false or misleading information that leads to confusion, mistrust in health authorities, and the rejection of public health recommendations. The devastating impacts of an infodemic on public health were felt during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are now on the precipice of another infodemic, this one regarding abortion. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization resulted in the reversal of Roe v. Wade, which had protected a woman's right to have an abortion for nearly 50 years. The reversal of Roe v. Wade has given way to an abortion infodemic that is being exacerbated by a confusing and rapidly changing legislative landscape, the proliferation of abortion disinformants on the web, lax efforts by social media companies to abate abortion misinformation, and proposed legislation that threatens to prohibit the distribution of evidence-based abortion information. The abortion infodemic threatens to worsen the detrimental effects of the Roe v. Wade reversal on maternal morbidity and mortality. It also comes with unique barriers to traditional abatement efforts. In this piece, we lay out these challenges and urgently call for a public health research agenda on the abortion infodemic to stimulate the development of evidence-based public health efforts to mitigate the impact of misinformation on the increased maternal morbidity and mortality that is expected to result from abortion restrictions, particularly among marginalized populations.

An appraisal of peer-reviewed published literature on Influenza, 2000-2021 from countries in South-East Asia Region.

Influenza poses a major public health challenge in South-East Asia Region (SEAR). To address the challenge, there is a need to generate contextual evidence that could inform policy makers and program managers for response preparedness and impact mitigation. The World Health Organization has identified priority areas across five streams for research evidence generation at a global level (WHO Public Health Research Agenda). Stream 1 focuses on research for reducing the risk of emergence, Stream 2 on limiting the spread, Stream 3 on minimizing the impact, Stream 4 on optimizing the treatment and Stream 5 on promoting public health tools and technologies for Influenza. However, evidence generation from SEAR has been arguably low and needs a relook for alignment with priorities. This study aimed to undertake a bibliometric analysis of medical literature on Influenza over the past 21 years to identify gaps in research evidence and for identifying major areas for focusing with a view to provide recommendations to member states and SEAR office for prioritizing avenues for future research. We searched Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases in August 2021. We identified studies on influenza published from the 11 countries in WHO SEAR in the date range of 1 January 2000-31 December 2021. Data was retrieved, tagged and analyzed based on the WHO priority streams for Influenza, member states, study design and type of research. Bibliometric analysis was done on Vosviewer. We included a total of 1,641 articles (Stream 1: n = 307; Stream 2: n = 516; Stream 3: n = 470; Stream 4: n = 309; Stream 5: n = 227). Maximum number of publications were seen in Stream 2, i.e., limiting the spread of pandemic, zoonotic, and seasonal epidemic influenza which majorly included transmission, spread of virus at global and local levels and public health measures to limit the transmission. The highest number of publications was from India (n = 524) followed by Thailand (n = 407), Indonesia (n = 214) and Bangladesh (n = 158). Bhutan (n = 10), Maldives (n = 1), Democratic People's Republic of Korea (n = 1), and Timor-Leste (n = 3) had the least contribution in Influenza research. The top-most journal was PloS One which had the maximum number of influenza articles (n = 94) published from SEAR countries. Research that generated actionable evidence, i.e., implementation and intervention related topics were less common. Similarly, research on pharmaceutical interventions and on innovations was low. SEAR member states had inconsistent output across the five priority research streams, and there was a much higher scope and need for collaborative research. Basic science research showed declining trends and needed reprioritization. While a priority research agenda has been set for influenza at the global level through the WHO Global Influenza Program since 2009, and subsequently revisited in 2011 and again in 2016-2017, a structured contextualized approach to guide actionable evidence generation activities in SEAR has been lacking. In the backset of the Global Influenza Strategy 2019-2030 and the COVID-19 pandemic, attuning research endeavors in SEAR could help in improved pandemic influenza preparedness planning. There is a need to prioritize contextually relevant research themes within priority streams. Member states must inculcate a culture of within and inter-country collaboration to produce evidence that has regional as well as global value.

Influenza surveillance systems using traditional and alternative sources of data: A scoping review

While the World Health Organization's recommendation of syndromic sentinel surveillance for influenza is an efficient method to collect high-quality data, limitations exist. Aligned with the Research Recommendation 1.1.2 of the WHO Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza-to identify reliable complementary influenza surveillance systems which provide real-time estimates of influenza activity-we performed a scoping review to map the extent and nature of published literature on the use of non-traditional sources of syndromic surveillance data for influenza. We searched three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) for articles in English, French, and Spanish, published between January 1 2007 and January 28 2022. Studies were included if they directly compared at least one non-traditional with a traditional influenza surveillance system in terms of correlation in activity or timeliness. We retrieved 823 articles of which 57 were included for analysis. Fifteen articles considered electronic health records (EHR), 11 participatory surveillance, 10 online searches and webpage traffic, seven Twitter, five absenteeism, four telephone health lines, three medication sales, two media reporting, and five looked at other miscellaneous sources of data. Several articles considered more than one non-traditional surveillance method. We identified eight categories and a miscellaneous group of non-traditional influenza surveillance systems with varying levels of evidence on timeliness and correlation to traditional surveillance systems. Analyses of EHR and participatory surveillance systems appeared to have the most agreement on timeliness and correlation to traditional systems. Studies suggested non-traditional surveillance systems as complements rather than replacements to traditional systems.

Better Late Than Never?! Five Compelling Reasons for Putting Physical Activity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries High Up on the Public Health Research Agenda.

Since 2020, the world has been navigating an epidemiologic transition with both infectious diseases (COVID-19) and noncommunicable diseases intertwined in complex and diverse ways. In fact, the pandemics of physical inactivity, noncommunicable diseases, and COVID-19 coincide in a tragically impactful ménage à trois with their detrimental long-term health consequences yet to be determined. We know that people in low- and middle-income countries not only have the highest risk of developing chronic diseases, they also develop the diseases at a younger age, they suffer longer, and they die earlier than people in high-income countries. This commentary features 5 compelling reasons for putting physical activity in low- and middle-income countries high up on the public health research agenda and calls for more commitment to inclusive and context-specific public health practices that are paired with locally relevant promotion and facilitation of PA practice, research, and policymaking.

WHO public health research agenda for managing infodemics

Abstract Background Following the World Health Organization's initial infodemic consultation in April 2020, a major infodemic conference was organised virtually in June-July 2020. Hundreds of experts participated to define science of infodemiology and build a public health research agenda that serves as a playbook for conducting relevant researches. Research Agenda provides guidance to invest in research and innovation so that we have better interventions and tools to understand, measure and respond to infodemics, and steer people towards timely, accessible, understandable information for good health choices. Methods The research agenda was developed during a virtual meeting, followed by research question prioritization exercise. It consisted of eight days spread out over four weeks. These were made up of: public preconference meeting; scientific conference, consisting of opening/closing plenary meetings either side of four separate “topic sprint” days; final public meeting to present the meeting outcomes. After the meeting, a process took place to gather and rank research questions based on the research agenda created during the meeting. Results The following five streams and 65 research questions were developed. Measuring and monitoring the impact of infodemics during health emergencies Detecting and understanding the spread and impact of infodemics Responding and deploying interventions that protect against the infodemic and mitigate its harmful effects Evaluating infodemic interventions and strengthening resilience of individuals and communities to infodemics Promoting the development, adaptation and application of tools for managing infodemics. Conclusions Five streams with 65 research questions were developed and prioritized to structuralise infodemic management based on evidence. The conference yielded on the development of an infodemiology glossary, which can be used by the community of research. Key messages Discuss investments in research and innovation to enable a whole-of-society response to infodemics. Explain the practice of infodemic management as a discipline.

Allied health professions public health research priorities: A modified e-delphi study in the United Kingdom

ObjectivesThis study identifies the United Kingdom (UK) Allied Health Professions (AHP) public health research priorities through a modified e-Delphi study conducted with an expert panel. Study designA modified e-Delphi study was utilised in this study. MethodsThis study used a modified e-Delphi approach to reach a consensus on research priorities. Expert panel members were invited to participate and complete three rounds of the e-Delphi. Ethical approval was obtained through the Public Health England Research and Evidence Governance Group. ResultsA total of 38 participants completed three rounds of the e-Delphi study between September and November 2020. Consensus was reached on nine AHP public health research priorities. ConclusionSeveral areas of AHP public health research were identified as priority, however, a number of priorities refer to the impact of AHP public health activities as opposed to empirical research. The identified priorities will be used to progress the AHP public health research agenda through a UK wide AHP public health strategy implementation group and through support and engagement from the AHP professional bodies and arm's length bodies.

A Public Health Research Agenda for Managing Infodemics: Methods and Results of the First WHO Infodemiology Conference.

BackgroundAn infodemic is an overflow of information of varying quality that surges across digital and physical environments during an acute public health event. It leads to confusion, risk-taking, and behaviors that can harm health and lead to erosion of trust in health authorities and public health responses. Owing to the global scale and high stakes of the health emergency, responding to the infodemic related to the pandemic is particularly urgent. Building on diverse research disciplines and expanding the discipline of infodemiology, more evidence-based interventions are needed to design infodemic management interventions and tools and implement them by health emergency responders.ObjectiveThe World Health Organization organized the first global infodemiology conference, entirely online, during June and July 2020, with a follow-up process from August to October 2020, to review current multidisciplinary evidence, interventions, and practices that can be applied to the COVID-19 infodemic response. This resulted in the creation of a public health research agenda for managing infodemics.MethodsAs part of the conference, a structured expert judgment synthesis method was used to formulate a public health research agenda. A total of 110 participants represented diverse scientific disciplines from over 35 countries and global public health implementing partners. The conference used a laddered discussion sprint methodology by rotating participant teams, and a managed follow-up process was used to assemble a research agenda based on the discussion and structured expert feedback. This resulted in a five-workstream frame of the research agenda for infodemic management and 166 suggested research questions. The participants then ranked the questions for feasibility and expected public health impact. The expert consensus was summarized in a public health research agenda that included a list of priority research questions.ResultsThe public health research agenda for infodemic management has five workstreams: (1) measuring and continuously monitoring the impact of infodemics during health emergencies; (2) detecting signals and understanding the spread and risk of infodemics; (3) responding and deploying interventions that mitigate and protect against infodemics and their harmful effects; (4) evaluating infodemic interventions and strengthening the resilience of individuals and communities to infodemics; and (5) promoting the development, adaptation, and application of interventions and toolkits for infodemic management. Each workstream identifies research questions and highlights 49 high priority research questions.ConclusionsPublic health authorities need to develop, validate, implement, and adapt tools and interventions for managing infodemics in acute public health events in ways that are appropriate for their countries and contexts. Infodemiology provides a scientific foundation to make this possible. This research agenda proposes a structured framework for targeted investment for the scientific community, policy makers, implementing organizations, and other stakeholders to consider.

Improving Understanding of and Response to Infodemics During Public Health Emergencies.

Improving Understanding of and Response to Infodemics During Public Health Emergencies.

Introduction: Public Health and the Promise of Palestine

This introductory essay contextualizes the special collection of papers on the pandemic and seeks to map the terrain of extant public health research on Palestine and the Palestinians. In addition, it is a contribution in Palestine studies to a nascent yet propulsive conversation that has been accelerated by Covid-19 on the erasure of structures of violence, including those of settler colonialism and racial capitalism, within the discipline of epidemiology. Using public health as an analytic, this essay asks us to consider foundational questions that have long been sidelined in the public health discourse on Palestine, including the implications for health and health research of eliding ongoing settler colonialism. Rather than ignoring and reproducing their violence, this essay seeks to tackle these questions head-on in an attempt to imagine a future public health research agenda that centers health, and not simply survivability, for all Palestinians.

CARTA fellows\u2019 scientific contribution to the African public and population Health Research agenda (2011 to 2018)

BackgroundSince its inception in 2009, the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) program has focused on strengthening the capacity of nine African universities and four research centres to produce skilled researchers and scholars able to improve public and population health on the continent. This study describes the alignment between CARTA-supported doctoral topics and publications with the priorities articulated by the African public and population health research agenda.MethodsWe reviewed the output from CARTA PhD fellows between 2011 and 2018 to establish the volume and scope of the publications, and the degree to which the research focus coincided with the SDGs, World Bank, and African Development Bank research priority areas. We identified nine key priority areas into which the topics were classified.ResultsIn total, 140 CARTA fellows published 806 articles in peer-reviewed journals over the 8 years up to 2018. All the publications considered in this paper had authors affiliated with African universities, 90% of the publications had an African university first author and 41% of the papers have CARTA fellows as the first author. The publications are available in over 6300 online versions and have been cited in over 5500 other publications. About 69% of the published papers addressed the nine African public and population health research agenda and SDG priority areas. Infectious diseases topped the list of publications (26.8%), followed by the health system and policy research (17.6%), maternal and child health (14.7%), sexual and reproductive health (14.3%).ConclusionsInvestments by CARTA in supporting doctoral studies provides fellows with sufficient training and skills to publish their research in fields of public and population health. The number of publications is understandably uneven across Africa’s public and population priority areas. Even while low in number, fellows are publishing in areas such as non-communicable disease, health financing, neglected tropical diseases and environmental health. Violence and injury is perhaps underrepresented. There is need to keep developing research capacity in partner institutions with low research output by training more PhDs in such institutions and by facilitating enabling environments for research.

An international physical activity and public health research agenda to inform coronavirus disease-2019 policies and practices

An international physical activity and public health research agenda to inform coronavirus disease-2019 policies and practices

A Call for a Public Health Agenda for Social Media Research.

Research has revealed both the benefits and harms of social media use, but the public has very little guidance on how best to use social media to maximize the benefits to their health and well-being while minimizing the potential harms. Given that social media is intricately embedded in our lives, and we now have an entire generation of social media natives, the time has come for a public health research agenda to guide not only the public’s use of social media but also the design of social media platforms in ways that improve health and well-being. In this viewpoint we propose such a public health agenda for social media research that is framed around three broad questions: (1) How much social media use is unhealthy and what individual and contextual factors shape that relationship; (2) What are ways social media can be used to improve physical and mental well-being; and (3) How does health (mis)information spread, how does it shape attitudes, beliefs and behavior, and what policies or public health strategies are effective in disseminating legitimate health information while curbing the spread of health misinformation? We also discuss four key challenges that impede progress on this research agenda: negative sentiment about social media among the public and scientific community, a poorly regulated research landscape, poor access to social media data, and the lack of a cohesive academic field. Social media has revolutionized modern communication in ways that bring us closer to a global society, but we currently stand at an inflection point. A public health agenda for social media research will serve as a compass to guide us toward social media becoming a powerful tool for the public good.

Abstract 3342: A novel indigenous knowledge system based approach to study cancer health disparities in rural population of North East India

Abstract Background: India's North East is an economically deprived and politically unstable region inhabited by diverse groups of indigenous people. The incidence of cancer (mainly oral) is unusually high in the region. Through our KaviKrishna telemedicine care (www.kavikrishnalab.org) with collaboration of Thoreau Lab for Global Health (www.thoreaulab.org) we have initiated a longitudinal study in the greater Sualkuchi (50,000 population) area to identify different elements that underlie cancer health disparities. Specially, we wanted to develop an indigenous knowledge system (IKS) based approach (1) as an analytical tool to study cancer health disparities. IKS may be defined as a knowledge-emergence mechanism as a result of non-linear communication between an individual and his/her culture (1). Methods: An IKS-based experimental approach was developed as follows. First, we identified 45 cancer patients (mostly oral cancer, age group- 30-65 years; 60% male) living in Sualkuchi. Second, we mapped out each patient’s social network/support system through regular home visit, interviews, focused group discussion, and visits to attending doctors. Third, one group of patients (n= 30 out of 45 patients) and relatives were empowered with basic knowledge about their disease and the available treatments needs through regular focused group meetings. After three months, we repeated interviews/group discussion to find whether they communicated their knowledge/experience to generate an IKS-based system (1). The data were then fed into the IKS-network analysis tool, which we developed partly, based on hub-system (3) and thematic network based approach (3). 10 patients from urban area served as a control population. Results: We found that 40 out of 45 patients find it extremely difficult to navigate the complex cancer care system due to lack of communication with treating oncologists/surgeons as compared to urban patients. 15 patients discontinued follow up visit mainly for this reason alone. 25 patients showed evidence of communicating through a pre-existing IKS-based system. Surprisingly, these 25 patients were positively responding to our care services/group discussion and becoming emotionally and psychologically strong towards managing their self-care. Conclusion: Our study indicates that lack of communication is a major cause of cancer health disparity. An IKS based approach may enhance communication, and contribute to cancer care in rural India. 1. Bikul Das. Globalization and Emerging Opportunities of Indigenous Culture. 2003. (www.academia.edu/ 7882695).2. Anita Kothari et al. Using an integrated knowledge translation approach to build a public health research agenda. Healthy Research Policy and Systems, 2014. (PMID: 24475759).3. Jennifer Attride-stirling: Thematic networks: an analytic tool for qualitative research. 2001. Qualitative Research. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Lekhika Pathak, Bidisha Pal, Tutumoni Baishya, Anupam Sarma, Bikul Das. A novel indigenous knowledge system based approach to study cancer health disparities in rural population of North East India [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3342.

Challenges and prospects in the public health research system in the occupied Palestinian territory: a qualitative study

BackgroundA public health research system is the bedrock of health systems to improve population health, system responsiveness, and equity. An international concern, referred to as the 10/90 gap, is that less than 10% of global funds are devoted to diseases or conditions that account for 90% of the global disease burden, particularly in developing countries. Palestinian health research is progressing, but it is not sufficiently investigated, with a remarkable knowledge gap on its conceptualisation, stewardship, stakeholders, and capacity and resources. The aim of this study was to understand the Palestinian public health research system by investigating challenges related to the system components that need to be strengthened. MethodsThe study was done in the Gaza Strip and West Bank in the occupied Palestinian territory between January and July, 2016. We targeted relevant government institutions, academic schools, and large local and international health agencies. Data were collected through 52 in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions with policy makers, academics, and experts. Participants and institutions were selected purposively on the basis of stated criteria and peer review. Data were translated, transcribed, checked, and imported into MAXQDA 12 for thematic and content analysis. Approvals were obtained from The Research Commission of Swiss TPH, “Ethikkommission Nordwest- und Zentralschweiz” (EKNZ) in Switzerland, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Helsinki Committee, and An-Najah National University in Palestine. FindingsThe health research system is not well structured, whereas public health research is promising but probably without regulated national policies. Most experts emphasised that governance is not clearly framed in managing research functions, whereas public health research activities are most likely scattered and individually driven. There is a consensus that the concept of the health research system is misunderstood and that the system is underperforming because of various problems such as resource insufficiency. Research is also not fundamentally at the heart of the political agenda or itemised in central budgets. Besides workforce scarcity with poor incentives and infrastructure, priorities in public health research are inconsistent and efforts are uncoordinated with poor multidisciplinary research. Dissemination and application of the public health research agenda among stakeholders are lacking. The research culture seems to be insufficiently cultivated. The international support to the public health research system is inconspicuous although some initiatives have been successful. The overall environment in the occupied Palestinian territory formed one of obstacles of the public health research system. Precious opportunities are proposed to strengthen public health research system synergistically through best strategies. InterpretationThe occupied Palestinian territory is a fertile place for growth of public health research system activity. Development actions should therefore be taken to get the system materialised by reactivating a unified governance body that cooperatively manages the national policies, capacities, priorities, research utilisation, and application of the public health research system. FundingThe Swiss Federation and Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.

Autonomous vehicles: Developing a public health research agenda to frame the future of transportation policy

Abstract Recent advancements in autonomous vehicle technology have led to projections that fully autonomous vehicles could define the transportation network within the coming years. In preparation for this disruptive innovation in transportation technology, transportation scholars have started to assess the potential impacts of autonomous vehicles, and transportation policymakers have started to formulate policy recommendations and regulatory guidance concerning their deployment. However, there has been little analysis of the public health implications arising from the widespread adoption of fully autonomous vehicles. We examine these prospective public health impacts—both benefits and harms to individual and population health—and analyze how they can be considered in the development of transportation policy. In this manuscript, we discuss the evolving relationship between technological innovations in transportation and public health, conceptualize automated transportation as a disruptive technology necessitating a public policy response, and define a research agenda to examine the public health implications of autonomous vehicle policy, as seen through existing evidence on road casualties, environmental health, aging populations, non-communicable disease, land use, and labor markets. We conclude that such a public health research agenda would provide a basis to frame autonomous vehicle policies that best support the public's health, realize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to ensure healthy lives and create sustainable cities, and provide a basis for public health participation in transportation policy reforms.

Inequality in unmet dental care needs among South Korean adults

BackgroundThe current public health research agenda was to identify the means to reduce oral health inequalities internationally. The objectives of this study were to provide evidence of inequality in unmet dental needs and to find influencing factors attributable to those among South Korean adults.MethodsPooled cross-sectional data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2009) on 17,141 Korean adults were used. Demographic factors (sex, age, and marital status), socioeconomic factors (education level, employment status, and income level), need factors (normative dental needs and self-perceived oral health status), and oral health-related factors (the number of decayed teeth, the presence of periodontitis, and the number of missing teeth) were included. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed.ResultsOf South Korean adults, 43.9% had perceived unmet dental needs, with the most common reason being financial difficulties. The disparities in unmet dental care needs were strongly associated with income level, normative treatment needs, and self-perceived oral health status. The low-income group, people with normative dental treatment needs, and those with perceived poor oral health status were more likely to have unmet dental needs. There was considerable inequality in unmet dental care needs due to economic reasons according to such socioeconomic factors as income and education level.ConclusionsPublic health policies with the expansion of dental insurance coverage are needed to reduce inequalities in unmet dental care needs and improve the accessibility of dental care services to vulnerable groups who are experiencing unmet dental care needs due to socioeconomic factors despite having normative and self-perceived needs for dental treatment.