title: Developing a national dental education research strategy: priorities, barriers and enablers.
abstract: This study aimed to identify national dental education research (DER) priorities for the next 3-5 years and to identify barriers and enablers to DER.
  
  
  
  Scotland.
  
  
  
  In this two-stage online questionnaire study, we collected data with multiple dental professions (eg, dentistry, dental nursing and dental hygiene) and stakeholder groups (eg, learners, clinicians, educators, managers, researchers and academics). Eighty-five participants completed the Stage 1 qualitative questionnaire and 649 participants the Stage 2 quantitative questionnaire.
  
  
  
  Eight themes were identified at Stage 1. Of the 24 DER priorities identified, the top three were: role of assessments in identifying competence; undergraduate curriculum prepares for practice and promoting teamwork. Following exploratory factor analysis, the 24 items loaded onto four factors: teamwork and professionalism, measuring and enhancing performance, dental workforce issues and curriculum integration and innovation. Barriers and enablers existed at multiple levels: individual, interpersonal, institutional structures and cultures and technology.
  
  
  
  This priority setting exercise provides a necessary first step to developing a national DER strategy capturing multiple perspectives. Promoting DER requires improved resourcing alongside efforts to overcome peer stigma and lack of valuing and motivation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Assessment in Research and Digital Learning, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Rola
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0651-3870
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ajjawi
authors.affiliation: Division of Food and Drink, School of Science, Engineering & Technology, Abertay University, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Education, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Ashley A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Charlotte E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003479:Curriculum; D003726:Dental Assistants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003813:Dentistry; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024382:Professional Role; D012106:Research; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: EDUCATION & TRAINING (see Medical Education & Training); STATISTICS & RESEARCH METHODS; dental education research; online questionnaire; priority setting