\(\mathcal {EAT}\) : explainable attentive transformers for identifying the factors influencing dental visits to enhance dental data completeness
摘要
Access to routine dental care is a cornerstone of preventive healthcare. Regular dental check-ups, which include professional cleanings, examinations, and preventive treatments, play a crucial role in preventing advanced dental diseases such as cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. These check-ups help identify potential problems early, reducing the need for more invasive treatments and minimizing complications. This research aims to identify key determinants influencing patient behavior regarding dental care.
MethodsTo identify influential factors affecting annual dental visits (ADV), we utilized the publicly available 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) dataset, comprising survey records. This dataset captures health-related behaviors, chronic conditions, and access to preventive services among adults in the United States. We propose a hybrid method combining feature selection using the
The proposed
Our proposed method effectively reduced the feature space, thereby improving focus and reducing training and inference time without compromising accuracy. This fusion-based model provides valuable insights for healthcare providers, enabling the development of targeted interventions tailored to specific population needs. Understanding the factors contributing to irregular dental visits can guide evidence-based strategies to overcome barriers and improve overall oral health outcomes.