Building effective public dental care programs: The critical role of implementation evaluation

Area of Science:

• Public health
• Health services research
• Health equity

Background:

• Significant income-related disparities exist in oral health and access to care.
• Public dental programs aim to bridge financial barriers but struggle with provider and patient engagement.
• Existing programs often neglect systemic issues impacting user experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate the application of an implementation and evaluation framework for a national public dental program in Canada.
• To highlight the importance of monitoring program delivery for adaptation and improved outcomes.
• To inform the development of Canada's upcoming national public dental program.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework.
• Applying the framework to a pediatric public dental program in Ontario, Canada.
• Measuring program performance across five key domains at multiple levels.

Main Results:

• The RE-AIM framework provides a structured approach to assess program implementation and impact.
• Monitoring data can identify quality gaps and inform program refinement.
• Stakeholder involvement in data review is essential for effective program adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Implementing and evaluating public dental programs requires a systematic approach.
• The RE-AIM framework is a valuable tool for assessing and improving public dental program delivery.
• Continuous monitoring and stakeholder collaboration are key to maximizing the impact of national dental initiatives.