title: Purpose, structure, and function of the United States National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Following a successful 2005-2012 phase with three regional practice-based research networks (PBRNs), a single, unified national network called "The National Dental PBRN" was created in 2012 in the United States to improve oral health by conducting practice-based research and serving dental professionals through education and collegiality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Central administration is based in Alabama. Regional centres are based in Alabama, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, New York and Texas, with a Coordinating Centre in Maryland. Ideas for studies are prioritized by the Executive Committee, comprised mostly of full-time clinicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To date, 2763 persons have enrolled, from all six network regions; enrollment continues to expand. They represent a broad range of practitioners, practice types, and patient populations. Practitioners are actively improving every step of the research process, from idea generation, to study development, field testing, data collection, and presentation and publication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practitioners from diverse settings are partnering with fellow practitioners and academics to improve clinical practice and meet the needs of clinicians and their patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This "nation's network" aims to serve as a precious national resource to improve the scientific basis for clinical decision-making and foster movement of the latest evidence into routine practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States. Electronic address: ghg@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Gregg H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: O Dale
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Korelitz
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fellows
authors.forename: Valeria V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Gordan
authors.forename: Sonia K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Makhija
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyerowitz
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Oates
authors.forename: D Brad
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rindal
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Foy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D026661:Clinical Trials Data Monitoring Committees; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003625:Data Collection; D018865:Dental Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003815:Dentists / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006075:Governing Board; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009909:Oral Health; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011643:Publishing; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States
keywords: ADA; ADHA; American Dental Association; American Dental Hygiene Association; Dentistry; Health services research; Multi-centre studies; NIDCR; PBRN; Practice-based research; Primary care; United States National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; practice-based research network