Objectives: Dental practice-based research networks (DPBRNs) have been operating successfully internationally for a number of years, investigating everyday issues in the delivery of dental care. We describe the establishment of Australia's first DPBRN - eviDent.
Methods: The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) and the Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre (based at Melbourne Dental School) joined together to establish and fund the network. The impetus for the formation of eviDent came from the ADAVB which represents the majority of dentists in Victoria. The eviDent committee has both practitioner and academic members. We reviewed the literature and consulted other established networks (both dental and medical) for guidance with matters relating to network framework, policy, procedures and training, which were then adapted to the Victorian context.
Results: Eight academic investigators and 24 practitioner investigators have been recruited to the network. eviDent currently has three projects operating: an evaluation of eviDent, a five-year retrospective assay of implant complications and management of molar-incisor hypomineralisation. The implant study currently has 18 practices involved and we have reviewed over 1300 implant cases. We sought and obtained funding for individual projects from relevant special interest societies. We have forged strong links with VicReN, the general medical practitioner-based network based in Victoria, to encourage interdisciplinary primary care research and established a working relationship with the PEARL DPBRN based in New York, USA with a view to conducting joint multi-centre studies.
Conclusion: eviDent has facilitated the partnering of practitioners and academics to undertake practice-based research. Support is ongoing from special interest societies who see a benefit for their membership from research in particular areas. The formation of a practice-based research network has the potential to substantially improve the evidence base for the delivery of dental care in Australia.