IADR Abstract Archives

Lessons Learned From Feasibility/Pilot Testing Studies in The Dental PBRN

Objective: To describe lessons learned from field testing studies in “The Dental Practice-Based Research Network” (DPBRN; www.DentalPBRN.org). Studies are conducted by clinicians in community settings, who may be doing their first research study.

Methods: The Alabama/Mississippi region served as an initial testing site for these studies: tobacco cessation trial; cohort study of root canal treatment; dentist questionnaires; case-control study of jaw osteonecrosis; three restorative dentistry studies; patient satisfaction study; occlusal caries study; and blood glucose testing. All studies were approved by the practitioner-driven DPBRN Executive Committee. Practitioner-investigator input is obtained at every step of the study development, implementation, and dissemination process.

Results: A healthy tension exists between a desire to include substantial data detail, with a desire to make data collection feasible in busy clinical practices. Feedback from practices resulted in removal of some questions, substantial wording changes, addition of graphics to aid quick understanding, and reduction in the number of data forms. Typically, investigative teams had to re-assess which items were crucial to the study's specific aims as they made forms simpler during iterations of testing. Although face-to-face training was conducted, Regional Coordinators either remained in the office during initial data collection, or had offices FAX completed forms for the first several days. Although all practices use the same data forms for any single study, for some studies there was latitude to customize the data collection or informed consent processes to the practice's routine office flow, thereby improving feasibility. Patients' acceptance of these studies was very high, judging from high participation rates (more than 90%) and completion of certain forms by patients themselves.

Conclusion: Many lessons were learned during feasibility and pilot testing. Early studies substantially informed later studies with regard to study design, practicality, forms design, informed consent process, and training and monitoring methods. Support: U01-DE-16746, U01-DE-16747.


AADR/CADR Annual Meeting
2010 AADR/CADR Annual Meeting (Washington, D.C.)
Washington, D.C.
2010
6
Behavioral, Epidemiologic and Health Services Research
  • Gilbert, Gregg H.  ( The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA )
  • Sutphin, Sherry M.  ( The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA )
  • Love, Jacqueline A.  ( The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA )
  • Mathews, Andrea H  ( The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA )
  • Makhija, Sonia K.  ( University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA )
  • Voinea-griffin, Andreea  ( University of Alabama, Birmingham, N/A, USA )
  • Palmore, Randall G.  ( Private practice, Pinson, AL, USA )
  • Sanderson, James L.  ( Private practice, Hoover, AL, USA )
  • Dpbrn Collaborative Group,  ( , Birmingham, AL, USA )
    • Oral Session
    Keynote Address and Dental Providers in Research Set-up
    03/03/2010