Agenda-setting for research in oral health care:Connecting perspectives

Abstract

Patients in oral health care suffer from a lack of implementation of research findings. This has an impact on the quality and safety of care provided by oral health care practitioners (OHPs). In this thesis, we provide insight into the composition of oral health research and research priorities of OHPs and patients. To identify the profile of oral health research, we analyzed which topics are addressed in current research portfolios of dental research institutes. The research portfolios of these institutes increasingly focus on basic science, while the focus on clinical dentistry declines. In addition, we found a discrepancy between the shares of health care expenditures in oral health care subfields and their corresponding oral health research. We, therefore, conclude there is an apparent disconnect between prevalent research topics and topics important for practice. To identify the research needs of OHPs and patients, a research agenda was developed. We first identified the most important research topics for both OHPs and patients separately. We connected the perspectives of OHPs and patients in a consensus meeting, where a joint research agenda was established. This research agenda uncovered that many of the prioritized topics are currently underrepresented in oral health research: Behavior change and the relation between general and oral health were ranked as most important. This research agenda can guide researchers, policymakers, and funders towards more relevant research subjects that correspond better with the end-users - both OHPs and patients -, and contribute to closing the gap between research and oral health care practice