Population-centered Risk- and Evidence-based Dental Interprofessional Care Team (PREDICT): study protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Innovations in dental delivery systems are crucial for improving oral health in low-income children.
• Current systems often fail to adequately serve vulnerable populations, necessitating new approaches.
• The PREDICT project protocol is detailed herein, focusing on novel delivery and payment models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Population-centered Risk- and Evidence-based Dental Interprofessional Care Team (PREDICT) model.
• To assess the impact of community-based preventive care and performance-based payment systems on children's oral health.
• To determine if PREDICT can reduce disparities in dental care access and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A parallel-group cluster randomized controlled trial involving 14 rural Oregon counties.
• Intervention group (PREDICT): Allied dental personnel provide community-based screening and preventive services, with case managers facilitating referrals and a pay-for-performance compensation system.
• Control group: Standard dental office-based care without performance incentives.

Main Results:

• Primary outcome: Prevalence of untreated dental caries.
• Secondary outcomes: Process, structure, and cost-related measures.
• Data collection via surveys, clinical examinations, and record reviews.

Conclusions:

• The PREDICT model has the potential to significantly decrease disparities in dental care and oral health.
• Successful implementation of PREDICT could serve as a scalable model for other organizations serving publicly insured populations.
• This interprofessional care model may enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of dental service delivery.