Dental public health capacity worldwide: Results of a global survey

Competencies for dental public health specialists: A thematic analysis

INTRODUCTION

Competency frameworks have been used to accurately guide the training and assessment of professionals. Dental Public Health professionals require a variety of skills beyond clinical aspects to meet ongoing social, economic, epidemiologic, technological, etc. developments. The purpose of this study was to develop a primary competency framework for dental public health (DPH) professionals by reviewing existing documents that can be modified by authorities based on their needs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To identify DPH competencies, first a literature review of current postgraduate DPH competencies was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Google from May to June 2021. All English language documents addressing DPH competencies were included and transferred to MAXQDA software. Next, DPH competency domains were extracted and defined, using Clarke and Braun's six-step qualitative thematic analysis method.

RESULTS

In total, 206 English documents were retrieved. After exclusion of 201 documents due to being duplicate or not related in screening stages, five full-text English documents describing competencies of DPH specialists from the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland were reviewed. Thematic analysis led to the provision of a framework consisting of all mentioned competencies in the reviewed documents including nine domains in education, research, management, policy, communication, leadership, professionalism, oral health status, and oral health services.

CONCLUSION

The proposed primary framework covers all competency domains and, as a comprehensive tool, can be used as a guide by local, national, and international authorities to develop their own frameworks for training and evaluating the DPH workforce.

APPROVAL OF THE USE OF THE SHORT FORM 19 OF THE CHILD'S ORAL HEALTH IMPACT PROFILE (COHIP-SF 19) FOR DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS

OBJECTIVE

The aim: Is an adaptation, determination of psychometric properties, and approbation of the use of COHIP-SF 19 for the needs of dental public health in the Ukrainian sample of children and teenagers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional validation study was conducted on a sample of 236 Ukrainian children aged 6 to 18. The psychometric indicators of the questionnaire were evaluated; analysis of the reliability and internal structure of the methodology based on correlation and factor analysis, calculation of Chronbach's alpha; reliability of re-testing (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient); assessment of convergent and discriminant validity (Mann-Whitney U test, ROC analysis, and correlation analysis). STATISTICA 6.1 (StatSoftInc., № AGAR909E415822FA) was used to analyze the results. The ethics of the study was confirmed by the conclusion of the relevant commission.

RESULTS

Results: After cultural direct and reverse translation of the original version, the Ukrainian version of COHIP-SF 19 UK was obtained. The internal consistency of the subscales and COHIP-SF 19 UK was generally sufficient (Cronbach's alpha is greater than 0.7). Sufficient reliability of retesting, convergent and discriminant validity of the methodology was proved. The presence of a correlation between COHIP-SF 19 UK indicators and self-assessment of children's health and quality of life was determined.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: The study proved that COHIP-SF 19 UK is a reliable valid method for assessing the quality of life-related to oral health among Ukrainian children and adolescents, and its good psychometric properties are sufficient for research in the field of dental public health.

A definition of global oral health: An expert consensus approach by the Consortium of Universities for Global Health's Global Oral Health Interest Group

Definitions can generate actionable consensus for a given subject matter by resolving important differences in philosophy and best practices and by streamlining activities for a stronger strategic direction. Interest in the global dimensions of oral health, a generally neglected area of global health, is growing; yet, no previously published research has defined the term 'global oral health.' As such, the Global Oral Health Interest Group of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health determined a need for an introductory definition of 'global oral health' to guide program planning, implementation, and evaluation. With the oversight of an expert senior Task Force for the Definition of Global Oral Health, we employed a mixed-methods approach using the more common expert consensus-building Delphi technique combined with the lesser utilized Q methodology. This approach allowed us to identify the interconnectedness of global oral health themes and integrate multiple, seemingly disparate, topics into a single streamlined concept. Our resulting definition is as follows: Global Oral Health aims for optimal oral health for all people and elimination of global health inequities through health promotion, disease prevention, and appropriate oral care approaches that consider common determinants and solutions and acknowledge oral health as part of overall health. The purpose of this short communication is to generate a narrative around our proposed definition of global oral health to support establishing guidelines and developing best practices for academic global oral health programs, policies, and practices that aim to achieve a goal of oral health globally.

Digital health leadership: carving a new pathway

Digital health is a novel and emerging field within healthcare, with a professional group that is evolving just as rapidly. In recent years, training opportunities within digital health have become more present in research, the NHS and the private sector. This article offers a personal reflection on a digital health leadership journey and makes the case for flexibility in training and career opportunities. If policy makers and senior leaders want to realise the outcomes from successive workforce reviews, such as The Topol Review, then there is a case for more inclusive digital leadership roles open to the widest range of suitably skilled professionals.

Developing leadership in dentists and schoolteachers to improve oral health inequalities

With oral diseases affecting people of all ages in every country of the world, new approaches are necessary to remove inequalities in oral health and increase access to oral health education. With over 1 billion children attending school, developing dental leadership skills not only in dental professionals but also in schoolteachers will help to spread oral health prevention messages effectively, implement healthy habits at a young age and impact a greater proportion of the global population to improve their oral health.

A Global Overview of the Geographical Distribution of Dentists: A Scoping Review

The objective of this study was to identify and analyze the geographic distribution of dentists, in the global context, through available scientific evidence, highlighting the following aspects: 1) the determinants of the geographic distribution of dentists, 2) corrective intervention implemented, and 3) their monitoring and evaluation. A scoping review of the published and gray literature was carried out in scientific databases and in relevant websites. We used an adaptation of a World Health Organization framework to study the distribution of human resources in health to analyze selected publications. After applying the eligibility criteria, 53 publications were included in the review; 10 related to the determinants of geographical distribution, 5 to interventions implemented, and 38 to the monitoring and evaluation process. More studies are needed to identify local determinants of the geographical distribution of dentists and to define adapted intervention strategies to make it more equitable.

Knowledge Transfer Statement: The geographic inequality of dentists is a problem for health systems because it has a direct impact on access to services and the oral health conditions of a population. Our study was based on a theoretical conceptual framework formulated in 3 components: 1) determinants of the geographical distribution, 2) strategies implemented to correct the problem, and 3) monitoring and evaluation. It can assist in designing oral health policy and guide decisions by policy makers.