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Unlocking the potential of NHS primary care dental datasets

British Dental Journal volume 232, pages 241–250 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction Maximising the use of routinely collected health data for research is a key part of the UK Government's Industrial Strategy. Rich data are generated by NHS primary care dental services, but the extent of their use in research is unknown.

Aims To profile the utility of the post-2006 NHS dental datasets for research, map how they have been used to date and develop recommendations to maximise their utility.

Methods The content of and access to the four UK NHS dental datasets was collated using publicly available information and a free-text questionnaire, completed by the relevant data controllers. A scoping review was carried out to identify and map literature that has utilised NHS dental activity data.

Results The contents of the UK NHS dental activity datasets are described, alongside how they may be accessed for research. Strengths and weaknesses of these datasets for research are highlighted. The scoping review identified 33 studies which had utilised NHS dental activity data since 2006. We classified 15 as public health practice, 11 as service evaluation and 7 as research.

Conclusion In comparision to other NHS activity datasets, it appears that the UK dental datasets have been underutilised for research. We make 11 recommendations on how their utility for research may be increased.

Key points

  • Profiles routinely collected dental services data in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  • Maps how different studies have used these data to date.

  • Makes recommendations for how the utility of these nationally important datasets can be increased.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Nikki Dodds and Kirsty Grey at the NHS Business Services Authority; Jennifer McCrea, James McGregor, Martin Mayock and Alan Harbinson at the HSC Business Services Organisation; and Ahmed Mahmoud at Public Health Scotland, for their help and support in scoping the contents of and access to the NHS dental activity datasets. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the the listed organisations or the Department of Health and Social Care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Associate, Dental Public Health, The University of Manchester, Division of Dentistry, Dental Health Unit, Lloyd Street North, Manchester Science Park, M15 6SE, UK

    Deborah Moore & Blessing Nyakutsikwa

  2. Research Fellow, Health Economics, Danish Centre for Health Economics, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark; The University of Manchester, Manchester Centre for Health Economics, Room 4.305 Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

    Thomas Allen

  3. Research Fellow, Health Economics Research Unit, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    Dwayne Boyers

  4. Research Assistant, Dental Public Health, The University of Manchester, Division of Dentistry, Dental Health Unit, Lloyd Street North, Manchester Science Park, M15 6SE, UK

    Kate McKenzie

  5. NIHR Clinical Lecturer, The University of Manchester, Division of Dentistry, Coupland 3, M13 9PL, UK

    Wendy Thompson

  6. Professor of Public Health Dentistry, The University of Manchester, Division of Dentistry, Dental Health Unit, Lloyd Street North, Manchester Science Park, M15 6SE, UK

    Iain Pretty

  7. Professor of Dental Public Health and Primary Care, The University of Manchester, Division of Dentistry, Coupland 3, M13 9PL, UK

    Martin Tickle

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Contributions

Deborah Moore led the conception and development of the study design, the scoping review search, analysis and interpretation and drafting and submission of the manuscript. Thomas Allen contributed to the scoping review search, analysis and interpretation, contributed to the drafting of the manuscript and approved the final version. Dwayne Boyers contributed to the scoping review search, analysis and interpretation, contributed to the drafting of the manuscript and approved the final version. Kate McKenzie contributed to the scoping review search, analysis and interpretation and approved the final version of the manuscript. Wendy Thompson contributed to the drafting of the manuscript and approved the final version. Blessing Nyakutsikwa contributed to the scoping review analysis and interpretation, contributed to the drafting of the manuscript and approved the final version. Iain Pretty contributed to the development and conception of the study, the drafting of the manuscript and approved the final version. Martin Tickle contributed to the conception and development of the study design, the drafting of the manuscript and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Deborah Moore.

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Moore, D., Allen, T., Boyers, D. et al. Unlocking the potential of NHS primary care dental datasets. Br Dent J 232, 241–250 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-3987-2

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