Impact of economic factors and knowledge translation on public procurement for dental adhesive systems

This study aimed to screen the public procurement for dental adhesives in a public health system and evaluate the variables associated with the type and cost of purchased materials. A time series was conducted with secondary data collated from the Brazilian Databank of Healthcare Prices (BDHP). All public procurements for adhesive systems registered from 2010 to 2019 were collated. The frequency of purchase was described, and a multiple linear regression model was used to assess the influence of unit price on predictor variables. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to describe the influence of selected variables on the probability of purchase for different classes of adhesive systems. A total of 2,752 purchases were analyzed, and the total cost of these materials reached US$ 7,022,659.00 in the 10 analyzed years. The 3-step Etch & Rinse adhesives corresponded to 45.63% of the processes, with increased probability of being purchased over time. The process conducted by public universities in recent years, using the auction modality, presented lower unit prices. The year of purchase, the type of institutions, the institution's location, and the procurement modality influenced the procurement process. The performed analyses contribute to the understanding of the variables associated with the procurements for adhesive systems, providing valuable information for rationalizing public expenditure and for implementing evidence-based practices to guarantee cost-effective and clinically effective procedures for users of the Brazilian public healthcare system.