Prioritisation of research recommendations from a national needs assessment programme.

Abstract

Objective: To gain consensus on and rank research and development recommendations from a series of Scottish Needs Assessment Programme (SNAP) reports.

Design: A two stage Delphi questionnaire was used and participants were asked to rank the recommendations in terms of potential health gain, practicality and priority.

Subjects: Views were sought from all consultants in dental public health in Scotland and from non-consultant members of the SNAP oral health steering group.

Results: Of the 17 individuals eligible, 16 participated in the study. Fifty four recommendations for research and development were identified in seven SNAP reports. Recommendations relating to the prevention of dental caries in young children, the organisation and delivery of dental care to disadvantaged groups and increased understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of oral cancer in younger people were seen as of highest priority.

Conclusions: This study has drawn together and prioritised a series of recommendations, and will help inform future oral health research needs in Scotland.