Assessing the Feasibility of a Web-based System for Topic Nomination

A prototype, interactive web-based system for topic nomination was launched in May 2008 and refined in August 2009 to include an online voting system for UK dentists to prioritise nominated research topics.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of setting up and running a web-based system for UK primary dental care practitioners to nominate and prioritise practice-related research topics.

Method: Qualitative evaluation using semi-structured interviews. These were undertaken in 2009 with nine key informants on the setting up and running of the system. The digitally-recorded interview data were transcribed, and collated into a 78,000 MS Word file. Thematic analysis, assisted by Nvivo 8 SP4 software, was undertaken to describe the factors perceived to have influenced the feasibility of setting up and running the system for topic nomination.

Results: Five key themes were identified as factors influencing the setting up and running of the system: a clear purpose, achieving a suitable product (technically deliverable), modes of application and delivery, appropriate human resource and sufficient budget. This presentation will describe these feasibility factors in more detail and also the sub-themes identified.

Conclusion: it is feasible to set up and run a web-based system for topic nomination by primary dental care practitioners. Sophisticated interactive web processes are complex to design, costly to produce and implement, and require ongoing investment. In addition, information/activity ‘seeding', or other social networking tools to promote user participation are important adjuncts to the system itself.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the new system occurred using quantitative analysis of topic nominations.

Sponsored by The Shirley Glasstone Hughes Trust Fund (SGHTF).

With thanks to the British Dental Association for hosting the system.