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Coles E, Freeman R. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2015 Jul 23. 10.1111/cdoe.12190

For those who are homeless, is their oral health awareness lost under 'the cosh of current life events'? Homelessness was conceptualised as a 'dynamic process', from deconstruction of the self, through construction of a homelessness identity to reconstruction of a life beyond homelessness. Oral health was used to illustrate this 'deconstruction-reconstruction formulation'. Underpinning the research, were two theoretical positions – that of Kant and the idea that consciousness or awareness is over-determined and that of Gaddini that 'the mouth is a central component of the mind-body continuum'. This is in contrast to Nettleton, who argues that 'the mouth should be considered as separate and thereby distinguished from the rest of the body'. The investigators used grounded theory methodology 'to understand the [homelessness] world' with the assertion that there is no prior knowledge of it. A purposive sample of 34 homeless people was recruited from homeless populations in four Scottish cities. Interviews were carried out to ascertain 'the problems and perceived barriers that homeless people felt affected... their good oral health and access to oral health services'. During the interview and only if considered appropriate, the investigators sought reflections from the participants on their homelessness and emotional journey. The findings suggest the need for 'responsive, acceptable and appropriate dental services for homeless people'. The second author is a colleague of the abstractor.