title: Research and Practice Communications Between Oral Health Providers and Prenatal Health Providers: A Bibliometric Analysis.
abstract: Objectives We aimed to examine scholarly collaboration between oral health and prenatal providers. Oral disease is a silent epidemic with significant public health implications for pregnant women. Evidence linking poor oral health during pregnancy to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes requires oral health and prenatal providers to communicate on the prevention, treatment and co-management matters pertaining to oral health issues among their pregnant patients. The need for inter-professional collaboration is highlighted by guidelines co-endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Dental Association, stressing the importance of oral health care during pregnancy. Methods To assess if interdisciplinary communication occurs between oral health and prenatal disciplines, we conducted a network analysis of research on pregnancy-related periodontal disease. Results Social Network analysis allowed us to identify communication patterns between communities of oral health and prenatal professionals via scientific journals. Analysis of networks of citations linking journals in different fields reveals a core-periphery pattern dominated by oral health journals with some participation from medicine journals. However, an analysis of dyadic ties of citation reveals statistically significant "inbreeding" tendencies in the citation patterns: both medical and oral health journals tend to cite their own kind at greater-than-chance levels. Conclusions Despite evidence suggesting that professional collaboration benefits patients' overall health, findings from this research imply that little collaboration occurs between these two professional groups. More collaboration may be useful in addressing women's oral-systemic health concerns that result in adverse pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave CPR107, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skvoretz
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980149, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Debate
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vamos
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA. nskline@mail.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Nolan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015706:Bibliometrics; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D037841:Pregnant People; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D012106:Research
keywords: Adverse pregnancy outcomes; Oral health providers; Prenatal care providers; Social network analysis