title: Tracking workforce diversity in dentistry: importance, methods, and challenges.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this paper are to describe sources of data on underrepresented minority (URM) dental providers and to perform a structured critique of primary survey research on African American (AA), Hispanic/Latino (HL), and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) dentists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national sample survey was conducted between October 2012 and March 2013, and secondary datasets were assessed for comparability. The survey used 21 sampling frames, with censuses of AI/AN and nonurban dentists, and assessed demographics, education, practice history, patient population, volunteerism, experiences with discrimination, and opinions on issues in dentistry. The survey was developed with constituent input, pilot-tested, and distributed online and through US mail with three reminder postcards, phone, and email follow-up. Continuing education credit and entry to a prize drawing were provided for participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Existing data sources cannot answer critical research questions about URM dentists. Using best practices, the survey received a 34 percent adjusted response rate. Selection likelihood and measurable response bias were adjusted for using base and poststratification weights.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey design was consistent with best practices, and our response analytics provide high confidence that the survey produced data representative of the URM dentist population. Enhanced study design, content, and response rates of existing survey efforts would be needed to provide a more robust body of knowledge on URM providers, perspectives, and practices.
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, Center for the Health Professions, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mertz
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, Center for the Health Professions, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wides
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, Center for the Health Professions, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, USA.|Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Health Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gates
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: data collection; dentists; minority groups; questionnaires; survey research