Practitioner Engagement in Activities of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN): 7-Year Results

Rahma Mungia; Ellen Funkhouser; Sonia K Makhija; Stephanie C Reyes; Rachel A Cohen; David L Cochran; Cyril Meyerowitz; D Brad Rindal; Valeria V Gordan; Jeffrey L Fellows; Meredith Trejo; Thomas W Oates; Jason D McCargar; Pamela A McMahon; Gregg H Gilbert; National Dental PBRN Collaborative Group

doi:10.3122/jabfm.2020.05.190339

Practitioner Engagement in Activities of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN): 7-Year Results

J Am Board Fam Med. 2020 Sep-Oct;33(5):687-697. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.05.190339.

Authors

Rahma Mungia¹, Ellen Funkhouser², Sonia K Makhija², Stephanie C Reyes², Rachel A Cohen², David L Cochran², Cyril Meyerowitz², D Brad Rindal², Valeria V Gordan², Jeffrey L Fellows², Meredith Trejo², Thomas W Oates², Jason D McCargar², Pamela A McMahon², Gregg H Gilbert²; National Dental PBRN Collaborative Group

Affiliations

¹ From the Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX (RM); Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, AL (EF); Department of Clinical & Community Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (SKM); Regional Coordinator, Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio, TX (SCR, DLC); Westat, Rockville, MD (RC); Department of Dentistry, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (CM); HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, MN (DBR); Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (VVG); Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR (JLF); College of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (MT); School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MS (TWO); Private Practitioner, Chandler, AZ (JDM); Gold Canyon Dentistry, Gold Canyon, AZ (PAM); Department of Clinical & Community Sciences, University of Alabama-Birmingham, AL (GHG); The National Dental PBRN Collaborative Group comprises practitioner, faculty, and staff investigators who contributed to this Network activity. A list of these persons is at http://www.nationaldentalpbrn.org/collaborative-group.php. mungia@uthscsa.edu.
² From the Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX (RM); Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, AL (EF); Department of Clinical & Community Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (SKM); Regional Coordinator, Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio, TX (SCR, DLC); Westat, Rockville, MD (RC); Department of Dentistry, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (CM); HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, MN (DBR); Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (VVG); Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR (JLF); College of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (MT); School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MS (TWO); Private Practitioner, Chandler, AZ (JDM); Gold Canyon Dentistry, Gold Canyon, AZ (PAM); Department of Clinical & Community Sciences, University of Alabama-Birmingham, AL (GHG); The National Dental PBRN Collaborative Group comprises practitioner, faculty, and staff investigators who contributed to this Network activity. A list of these persons is at http://www.nationaldentalpbrn.org/collaborative-group.php.

Abstract

Purpose: To 1) quantify practitioner activities of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (Network) for which Continuing Education (CE) credits were received (study training, videos, webinars, meetings, and symposia); 2) quantify practitioner coauthoring Network publications and presentations; and 3) test whether practitioner characteristics were associated with participation in these activities.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 4361 practitioners who enrolled in the Network between April 12, 2012 and October 12, 2018.

Results: Overall, 59% (n = 2586) of practitioners earned CE credit from the Network; among these, 68% (n = 1757) from a video, 38% (n = 993) attended an annual Network meeting, 31% (n = 798) due to training for a Network clinical study, 9% (n = 226) attended a national symposium, and 7% (n = 170) participated in a Network webinar. Members of 2 large group practices earned on average more CEs than practitioners from other practice settings. Four percent (n = 159) of practitioners coauthored a Network presentation or publication. Practitioners who received their dental degree before 2000, were general practitioners, or were members of 2 large group practices, were more likely to have coauthored a publication or presentation.

Conclusion: This Network used a broad range of activities to engage community practitioners. These activities were successful in sustaining a high level of practitioner engagement in clinical research and its relevance to everyday clinical practice.

Keywords: Continuing Education; General Practitioners; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; Practice-Based Research; Publishing; Retrospective Studies.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Dental Research
Dentists* / education
Dentists* / psychology
Dentists* / statistics & numerical data
Education, Dental, Continuing* / statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Societies, Medical
United States

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding