SFG / DTA Scholars: “Feasibility study of new technology on dental office productivity and access”

The SFG / DTA Scholars program was one of the first rounds of projects the DTA Foundation (ADTA Foundation at the time) funded as an organization, in partnership with the Santa Fe Group. The following is an excerpt from the 2004 project report. 

Depending on the specific characteristics of an innovation, the adoption of new technologies by both the profession and the public has much potential for increasing demand for services, for improving productivity, and for reducing disease via prevention. Initially, this project sought to focus on the impact of a media campaign on screening for oral cancer and on the impact the campaign has on practices, over the long term. The campaign would have been focus on a specific geographic area and new patients responding to the campaign would be tracked. Plans were to compile data on actual lesions discovered and on the results of biopsies. A four month follow-up was planned to determine if patients were remaining with the practices and if recommended treatment and other oral health care was being pursued.

Close examination of the initial proposal revealed a number of design and feasibility concerns. After consultation between the investigator and a team of ADTAand SFG mentors, the project was re-designed following the October meeting. The current project is thought to be much more realistic while maintaining and serving the investigator’s interests. There are three pilot studies involved: a brush biopsy evaluation, community education and outreach activities, and a health disparity study. After encountering unanticipated complications with his home institution, the investigator has since obtained IRB (use of human subjects) approval and his University has committed to providing a variety of support services which will greatly expand the impact of the original ADT A-SFG funding. He is exploring the potential impact of HIPP A regulations on the project. OralCdx has contributed $6,000 worth oftest kits and testing services to this effort and several dental practices have indicated an interest in participating in the project. Baseline data on these practices is being compiled to permit monitoring new patients once the campaign has been launched. As an indirect impact, this project has been incorporated into an application for dental school curriculum development, especially in the area of oral cancer education and prevention.