title: Advocacy practices among U. S. pediatric dentists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advocacy is the primary mission of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), but members' participation in advocacy is not well known. The purpose of this study was to examine advocacy by AAPD members and their attitudes toward various advocacy-related activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Internet-based questionnaire, e-mailed to 4,328 AAPD members via Survey Monkey, consisted of 19 questions on: demography; advocacy training; attitudes toward advocacy; and past, recent, and current advocacy practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,046 respondents provided a 25% response rate. Ninety percent supported advocacy as a role for pediatric dentists. Two-thirds felt prepared for advocacy, but only 22% had training in residency. Participation in clinical advocacy was the most common activity, but most respondents reported local oral health promotion and promotion of oral health with other professionals. Approximately half or fewer reported participation in political action or lobbying. Pediatric dentists out of training longer were more likely to participate in advocacy as were male pediatric dentists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry members support the advocacy role of pediatric dentists and participate in a wide range of advocacy activities.
authors: Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors: Molly
authors: M
authors: Lopez-Cepero
authors: Homa
authors: H
authors: Amini
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Pagano
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Casamassimo
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Rashid
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008119:Lobbying; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009909:Oral Health; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000193:education; D011057:Politics; D024382:Professional Role; D012953:Societies, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017664:Uncompensated Care; D014481:United States