title: Board certification status and pediatric dentists' practice characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Board certification is often used as a surrogate indicator of provider competence and quality of care, although few studies have demonstrated its validity. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between board certification status and a set of quality characteristics of pediatric dental practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 30-item questionnaire was developed that collected information regarding practice characteristics in the areas of: (1) professional growth/practice management; (2) emergency readiness; (3) treatment guidelines utilization; (4) patient pool selection; (5) safety; and (6) behavior management. The questionnaire was mailed to 250 board-certified and 250 noncertified pediatric dentists paired by year and program of graduation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, respondents-irrespective of pairing by program and year of graduation-tended to answer affirmatively or largely positively to most questions. Maintaining hospital privileges and having routinely CPR-certified staff were significantly related to the board certification status. When year of graduation and residency program attended was considered, however, this significance disappeared. In categories of treatment guidelines utilization, patient pool selection, safety protocols and behavior management, there was no significant difference between board certified and nonboard certified pediatric dentists (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Generally, pediatric dentists independent of certification status, practice at a high level of quality, as measured in this study.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Dentistry, Ohio State University & Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Homa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McTigue
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Casamassimo
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000592:standards*; D011215:Practice Management, Dental / Q000592:standards*; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D013044:Specialty Boards; D013192:Staff Development; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States