Structure, function, and productivity from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Area of Science:

• Dental research infrastructure and network organization.
• Clinical research methodology and practice-based research.

Background:

• The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) was established in 2005 and expanded nationwide in 2012, with further organizational changes in 2019.
• The network aims to foster collaborative research involving dental practitioners and patients in real-world settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the current structure and operational functions of the National Dental PBRN.
• To quantify the scientific productivity and impact of the network's research activities since its inception in 2005.

Main Methods:

• The network comprises a national Administrative and Resource Center, regional and specialty nodes across the US, and a Network Coordinating Center.
• Studies are funded through investigator-initiated grants.
• Scientific productivity is measured using metrics such as the number of publications and the Relative Citation Ratio (RCR).

Main Results:

• To date, 58 studies have been completed or are in development, covering diverse topics and study designs.
• Enrollment included 70,665 patients and 19,827 practitioners, with electronic records for an additional 790,493 patients in data-only studies.
• Network research has resulted in 193 peer-reviewed publications in 62 journals, with a mean RCR of 1.40, indicating above-average influence.

Conclusions:

• The PBRN model effectively engages practitioners and patients nationally, demonstrating sustained high scientific productivity.
• This research infrastructure supports clinical scientists in both oral and non-oral health fields.
• The network provides valuable recruitment avenues outside of traditional academic health centers.