The Creation and Development of the Dental Practice-Based Research Network
Section snippets
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF DENTAL PRACTICE-BASED RESEARCH NETWORK
The mission of DPBRN is “To improve oral health by conducting dental practice-based research and by serving dental professionals through education and collegiality.” DPBRN is committed to maximizing the practicality of conducting research in daily clinical practice across geographically dispersed regions, so its structure is designed to focus some activities at the regional level (for example, close interactions with practitioner-investigators) and other activities that can be done on behalf of
THE STUDY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
A key operating principle for DPBRN is that the research questions originate from dental practitioner-investigators and that the answers to these questions have the potential to improve the practice of dentistry. Furthermore, the research has to be conducted in the network members' practices. This situation creates a healthy tension between the needs of a sound research project and the need not to be overly disruptive of daily clinical practice. In this sense, the process cannot require the
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF DENTAL PRACTICES
We recruit dental practices in several ways. Practitioners in a region receive a mailing that describes DPBRN and invites them to participate. We also recruit practitioners at DPBRN booths at dental meetings, at DPBRN orientation sessions, via DPBRN practitioner-investigators and via the DPBRN Web site.
When practitioners enroll in DPBRN, they complete a 101-item online questionnaire that describes their characteristics and those of their practices. After the practitioners complete the
DISCUSSION
Early challenges in the development of DPBRN were delays in study implementation owing to institutional review board requirements in certain regions and the initially slow recruitment of practitioner-investigators into the network. Now, however, we have found that dentists from an array of practice settings and geographic regions will readily contribute research ideas and participate in practice-based studies. As dentists become knowledgeable about the benefits to their practices and patients
CONCLUSIONS
Although the nature of PBRN research presents many challenges to the organization, communication, implementation and dissemination of research and quality improvement, these challenges can be overcome and managed. PBRNs are based on the understanding that the experience, insight and practical wisdom of daily clinical practitioners and their patients are powerful means of advancing the health of the population and addressing challenges encountered in daily clinical practice. Dentistry can play
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Cited by (95)
Characteristics of dentists in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network
2023, Journal of DentistryHow French dentists manage defective restorations: Evidence from ReCOL the French dental practice-based research network––A survey study
2022, Journal of DentistryCitation Excerpt :Registration to ReCOL is free and restricted to dentists practicing in France. Inspired by other DPBRNs, ReCOL shares similar objectives, mainly oral health improvement, by conducting dental practice-based research and by helping dental professional and their patients [20–22]. A questionnaire aiming to assess knowledge, opinions and practices about DR management was developed by SD, CH, CMCV and JJdS.
Dental practice-based research networks (D-PBRN) worldwide: A scoping review
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This investigation was supported by National Institutes of Health National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research grants U01-DE-16746 and U01-DE-16747.
The DPBRN Collaborative Group includes practitioner-investigators, faculty investigators and staff members who contributed to this DPBRN activity. A list of these people is at “www.dpbrn.org/users/publications/Default.aspx”.
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Dr. Gilbert is a professor and the chair, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, SDB Room 109, 1530 3rd Ave. South, Birmingham, Ala. 35294-0007
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Dr. Williams is a professor and an associate director, Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
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Dr. Rindal is a staff dentist, HealthPartners Dental Group, Minneapolis.
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Dr. Pihlstrom is the associate director, Evidence-Based Care and Oral Wellness Research, and a practitioner, Permanente Dental Associates, Portland, Ore.
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Dr. Benjamin is in general dentistry private practice, Miami.
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Dr. Wallace is in general dentistry private practice, Birmingham, Ala.