Study protocol
The translation research in a dental setting (TRiaDS) programme protocol
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* Corresponding author: Jan E Clarkson j.e.clarkson@cpse.dundee.ac.uk
1 Dental Health Services & Research Unit, University of Dundee, MacKenzie Building, Kirsty Semple Way, Dundee, DD2 4BF, UK
2 Health Services Research Unit, Health Services Building, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
3 Institute of Health and Society, 21 Claremont Place, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AA, UK
4 Institute for Health Sciences Education, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Abernethy Building, 2 Newark Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 2AT, UK
5 Ottowa Hospital Research Institute, Administrative Services Building, Room 2-018, 1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, K1Y 4EP, Canada
6 William Guild Building, University of Aberdeen School of Psychology, Aberdeen, AB24 2UB, UK
7 Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness, Department of Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
8 Division of Clinical & Population Sciences and Education, University of Dundee, Kirsty Semple Way, Dundee, DD2 4BF, UK
9 NHS Education for Scotland, One Clifton Place, Glasgow, G3 7LD, UK
10 Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme, NHS Education for Scotland, Dundee Dental Education Centre, Frankland Building, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK
11 University of Glasgow Dental School, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JX, UK
12 NHS Education for Scotland, Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HE, UK
13 NHS Education for Scotland, Dundee Dental Education Centre, Frankland Building, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK
14 School of Education, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
Implementation Science 2010, 5:57 doi:10.1186/1748-5908-5-57
Published: 20 July 2010Abstract
Background
It is well documented that the translation of knowledge into clinical practice is a slow and haphazard process. This is no less true for dental healthcare than other types of healthcare. One common policy strategy to help promote knowledge translation is the production of clinical guidance, but it has been demonstrated that the simple publication of guidance is unlikely to optimise practice. Additional knowledge translation interventions have been shown to be effective, but effectiveness varies and much of this variation is unexplained. The need for researchers to move beyond single studies to develop a generalisable, theory based, knowledge translation framework has been identified.
For dentistry in Scotland, the production of clinical guidance is the responsibility of the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP). TRiaDS (Translation Research in a Dental Setting) is a multidisciplinary research collaboration, embedded within the SDCEP guidance development process, which aims to establish a practical evaluative framework for the translation of guidance and to conduct and evaluate a programme of integrated, multi-disciplinary research to enhance the science of knowledge translation.
Methods
Set in General Dental Practice the TRiaDS programmatic evaluation employs a standardised process using optimal methods and theory. For each SDCEP guidance document a diagnostic analysis is undertaken alongside the guidance development process. Information is gathered about current dental care activities. Key recommendations and their required behaviours are identified and prioritised. Stakeholder questionnaires and interviews are used to identify and elicit salient beliefs regarding potential barriers and enablers towards the key recommendations and behaviours. Where possible routinely collected data are used to measure compliance with the guidance and to inform decisions about whether a knowledge translation intervention is required. Interventions are theory based and informed by evidence gathered during the diagnostic phase and by prior published evidence. They are evaluated using a range of experimental and quasi-experimental study designs, and data collection continues beyond the end of the intervention to investigate the sustainability of an intervention effect.
Discussion
The TRiaDS programmatic approach is a significant step forward towards the development of a practical, generalisable framework for knowledge translation research. The multidisciplinary composition of the TRiaDS team enables consideration of the individual, organisational and system determinants of professional behaviour change. In addition the embedding of TRiaDS within a national programme of guidance development offers a unique opportunity to inform and influence the guidance development process, and enables TRiaDS to inform dental services practitioners, policy makers and patients on how best to translate national recommendations into routine clinical activities.