Canadian dentists' willingness to be involved in dental research.
BACKGROUND
Building a collaborative research network reuniting dentists and academics constitutes a solution in order to bridge the gap between dental research and patient care. The purpose of this study was to identify the kind of clinicians willing to be involved in research and to determine their research priorities.


METHODS
A questionnaire was mailed to all registered dentists in Canada in December 2001. This questionnaire comprised sociodemographic variables and questions on research utility, research results availability and dental research priorities. The statistical analyses were performed with 2,595 questionnaires completed by dentists working in a clinical setting.


RESULTS
27% of respondents were willing to be involved in dental research, 23% did not know and 50% did not want to be involved. A multiple logistic regression model shows that being open to participate (Yes and Don't know) is associated with: younger age (OR = 2.83), perception that research has a very big impact on the oral health of the population (OR = 1.93), perception that dental research results are not easily available to dentists (OR = 1.47), practice as a specialist (OR = 1.45) and French spoken as a first language (OR = 1.45). A large majority (80%) of dentists who would like to be involved in research think that effectiveness of techniques and treatments are a very high priority.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant group of dentists who wish to be involved in research. This information could be used to reunite dentists and researchers in a collaborative network.
Bedos
Christophe
C
Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Strathcona building, 3640 University St., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 2B2. christophe.bedos@mcgill.ca
Allison
Paul J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D018865:Dental Research / Q000145:classification; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007802:Language; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009909:Oral Health; D013039:Specialties, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome