The 2007 meeting of the International and American Associations for Dental Research will feature a symposium on research that is conducted in the everyday practice of dentistry.
Practice-based research is becoming more common in health care, because of the need for real-life data from practitioners to guide decisions for the prevention and treatment of disease. Originating in Scotland, networks of dental practitioners have been formed to provide this information for dentists, hygienists, and the public. While there is a great need for such networks, they provide very special challenges in today’s busy practice environment. This symposium will focus on the conduct of oral health research in dental practice, with the goal of discussing its prominent challenges and opportunities. Representatives from the Scottish Network and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Networks will discuss the challenges and opportunities, recruitment, training, and study development in their PBRNs. An informal panel discussion will include representatives from Practice-based Research in the United States and Scotland.
This is a summary of a symposium entitled “Practice-based Research — What’s It All About?”, to be held at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, March 23, 2007, in Room 295 of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, during the 85th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research.