Title |
Creating research and development awareness among dental care professionals by use of strategic communication: a 12-year intervention study
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Published in |
BMC Oral Health, December 2017
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DOI | 10.1186/s12903-017-0445-7 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Helena Morténius, Svante Twetman |
Abstract |
Despite the availability of contemporary research advances, only a limited fraction is implemented into dental practice. One possible way to facilitate this process is to stimulate the research and development (R&D) awareness and interest with aid of strategic communication. The aim of the study was to analyse the role of a strategic communication in R&D awareness and interest among dental care professionals (DCP) over a 12-year period. A second aim was to compare the findings with those from primary care professionals (PCP). The project had a prospective design and the intervention was conducted through established oral, written and digital channels. The outcome was captured by two validated questionnaires submitted after 7 and 12 years, respectively. An additional Questionnaire file shows the details [see Additional file 1]. The material consisted of 599 health care professionals (205 DCP; 394 PCP) that responded to the first questionnaire and 526 individuals (195 DCP; 331 PCP) who responded to the second. All were employed by the primary care organization of Region Halland located in southwest of Sweden. The majority were women (≥ 85%) and the mean age at the first questionnaire was 49 years (SD 8.5). Longitudinal analyses were applied to those individuals that responded to both surveys after 7 and 12 years (n = 248). Comparisons between DCP's and PCP's were processed with Chi-square and Fischer's exact tests. Strategic communication contributed to increase the R&D awareness and interest among the dental personnel. The created interest was reported stronger among the DCP when compared with PCP at both surveys (p < 0.05). The longitudinal findings confirmed a long-term interest among the DCP's. Direct and indirect communication facilitated R&D interest in both groups. The most powerful channels were the written "Research bulletin" and peer inspiration. Strategic communication can be employed as a scientific tool that may contribute to the creation of a long-term R&D awareness and interest among dental care professionals. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 44 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 7 | 16% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 4 | 9% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 3 | 7% |
Student > Postgraduate | 2 | 5% |
Lecturer | 2 | 5% |
Other | 10 | 23% |
Unknown | 16 | 36% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 15 | 34% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 3 | 7% |
Engineering | 2 | 5% |
Social Sciences | 2 | 5% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 1 | 2% |
Other | 3 | 7% |
Unknown | 18 | 41% |