Assessing the Current Research Infrastructure of Pediatric Dentistry Residency Programs: An Update for 2020

Purpose: To assess the research infrastructure of pediatric dentistry residency programs in the United States and to determine the variables associated with increased scholarly activity. Methods: A 21-item questionnaire assessing program characteristics, research infrastructure, publication output and grants secured, barriers to scholarly activity, and satisfaction with current research infrastructure was developed and administered to program directors from March through June 2020. Results: Of 94 programs, 43 (46 percent) responded; 22 (51 percent) were hospital-based (H), 15 (35 percent) combined hospital-university-based (C), and six (14 percent) university-based (U). Most programs (77 percent) offered protected time to residents with varying time allocation (P<0.001). Forty-four percent of programs did not offer any protected time for faculty (P=0.001). Median number of faculty publications, resident publications, and grants were highest for U (16, five, and five, respectively) and lowest for H (zero, zero, and zero) (P<0.001; P=0.03; P<0.001). Number of total full-time faculty, full-time board-certified faculty, and full-time faculty with advanced degrees were associated with increased publications and grants secured. Interference with revenue-generating clinical time was the largest barrier to publication. Conclusion: Although university-based programs exhibit the infrastructure most conducive to scholarly activity, these findings suggest pediatric dentistry residency programs may lack resources and infrastructure to generate high quality research.