In its portfolio, COHORTS has a broad array of externally-funded and center-supported research activities involving scientists and professionals from a number of disciplines. Broadly categorized into behavioral, health policy and health services, and community-based research, this research spans the gamut of systems-focused, clinical and other applied and basic investigations.
Active Grants: Behavioral Research
Implementing Evidence-based Behavioral Skills in Pediatric Oral Healthcare Providers – UH3DE032004
Principal Investigators: McNeil, Daniel W; McNeil, Cheryl B; NIDCR, NIH
The overall goal of this 7-year UG3/UH3 collaborative project is to develop an interventional training for oral healthcare professionals based on behavioral skills determined to positively impact adult-child interactions in pediatric dental care. The goal of this line of research is to measure the mechanisms involved in the effectiveness of this training on dental provider utilization of these skills, and how skill utilization affects satisfaction, adherence, and behaviors of very young children (under the age of 6) and their parents/caregivers. With an innovative training based on a well-established behavior management program for preschoolers, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), findings from this project will reveal if oral health care providers’ responsivity to children’s developmental needs can be changed and effectively impact the experience of dental care in very young children. The valuable connections with community partners in the states of West Virginia, Arkansas, and North Carolina allow this study to be both feasible and representative of a large variety of dental settings. The project is designed to train dental providers on a few key skills that could greatly impact child comfort in the dental office and create a foundation for future curriculum development for all dental staff. The long-term goal is to disseminate an effective training package for students of dentistry and current dental providers on a large scale that helps dental providers reduce child distress.
Development of Opportunities for Research (DOOR) in Dental Schools: Future Academic Interdisciplinary Workforce and Collaborators for the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) – U01DE033262
Principal Investigators: McNeil, Daniel W; Paquette, David W; NIDCR, NIH
The University of Florida (UF) College of Dentistry and East Carolina University (ECU) School of Dental Medicine are collaborating to establish an academic multidisciplinary practice-based research network within and between their respective dental schools to provide clinical faculty, residents, and predoctoral students with a competency-based training program for skills development, research mentorship, and participation in practice- oriented clinical research. The partnership addresses NIDCR’s opportunity for Practice-Based Research Integrating Multidisciplinary Experiences in Dental Schools (PRIMED). There is a need in dental education to promote research skill training and experiences, at both the pre- and post-doctoral levels, and to integrate these processes with interprofessional education and transdisciplinary research. This proposal is designed to foster culture change to embrace research as a critical component of both dental education and dental practice. The proposed project outlines the Development of Opportunities for Research (DOOR): Future Academic Interdisciplinary Workforce and Collaborators for the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). Along with clinical research skills development and mentoring, included are two clinical research studies with common databases across the two schools to involve dental students, residents, clinical faculty, and research-intensive faculty.
Developing an Ontology for Dental Care-Related Fear and Anxiety: Toward an Understanding of Problems in Dental Care Utilization- U01DE033978
Principal Investigators: McNeil, Daniel W; Duncan, William; NIDCR, NIH
This research aims to create a controlled vocabulary for terms defining and classifying dental-care related fear, anxiety, and/or phobia (DFA). We do this by developing the Ontology of Dental care-related Fear, and Anxiety, and/or Phobia (ODFA). The ODFA’s concepts and relations facilitate the development of tools and resources capable of enhancing our understanding of the impacts of DFA, and when applied to study data, the ODFA enables the integration and interoperability of data from multiple studies.
Active Grants: Health Policy and Health Services Research
Effects of Pregnancy and Postpartum Medicaid Dental Benefit Generosity On Use Of Dental Services- R03DE033075
Principal Investigator: Singhal, Astha; NIDCR, NIH
Oral health during pregnancy and postpartum has significant impact on a woman’s overall health, birth outcomes and their child’s oral health. This study will provide evidence on how the generosity of state Medicaid dental benefits during pregnancy and postpartum impacts access to routine and emergent dental care. Understanding the effects of dental benefits generosity and duration is critical to inform policy decision-making and implementation of recent expansions of Medicaid dental benefits for pregnant and postpartum women aimed to improve maternal health outcomes.
Development of a provider-centered intervention for Non-Traumatic Dental Condition management in the Emergency Department- K99DE031723
Principal Investigator: Khouja, Tumader; NIDCR, NIH
Although not ideal, emergency department use for non-traumatic dental conditions is common and results in unnecessary antibiotic and opioid prescribing. This project seeks to understand barriers and facilitators to appropriate non-traumatic dental condition management in the emergency department through quantitative and qualitative methods and pilot tests an intervention strategy to improve emergency department provider’s prescribing of antibiotics and opioids for non-traumatic dental conditions. Findings from this project will provide preliminary data to support a clinical trial to demonstrate the effectiveness of our intervention as a model to implement nationally to improve management of non-traumatic dental conditions in the emergency department and other health care settings.
Susceptibility Patterns for Grade C Periodontitis in Young Individuals – U01DE031223
Principal Investigator: Ensz, Olga; NIDCR, NIH
Grade C Molar-Incisor Pattern periodontitis (C/MIP) is a relatively rare but aggressive disease resulting in rapid loss of alveolar bone around specific teeth, potentially leading to early tooth loss in systemically healthy, young patients. This study aims to characterize the genetic, host, and microbial factors of C/MIP. By defining parameters of susceptibility and diagnosis, the research seeks to enable predictable and effective treatment, ultimately informing patient care strategies and improving clinical outcomes.
Active Grants: Community-Based Research
CareQuest Foundation “The Impact of Dental Therapists on Achieving the Quadruple Aim: A Minnesota Experience and Florida Projection”
Principal Investigator: Revere, Lee
This grant aims to assess the impact of dental therapists on emergency room usage, costs, and workforce productivity in Minnesota, contrasting it with Florida while considering key community factors. It also explores patient and provider perspectives on dental therapy and conducts a predictive analysis to estimate its potential effects on ER visits and costs if implemented in Florida.
CareQuest Foundation “Community-based Access, Resources, and Education: Dental Care for those with Disabilities (D-CARE)
Principal Investigator: Smallwood, Bryan; McNeil, Daniel W
In partnership with the ARC of Alachua county, this project involves the planning, development, and implementation of a mobile dental care program, including teledentistry, for persons with disabilities (focusing on adults) in Alachua county, Florida. Along with that clinical service, there is a Council of Advisory Groups that consists of caregivers and advocates for persons with disabilities, community agencies, and statewide advocates (e.g., Florida Voices for Health) that serve persons with disabilities, as well as programs and units that are part of the University of Florida that focus on those with disabilities. Although focused on systems change involving community-based service, there are strong research components included in this project to allow replicability elsewhere in Florida and across the nation.