Table 2.
Variable description
| Variable | Survey question |
|---|---|
| Dependent Variables | |
| Consults dental peer-reviewed journals | Consults at least one of the following peer-reviewed dental journals: Journal of the American Dental Association, General Dentistry, Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, other dental peer-reviewed (coded from open-ended responses). |
| Range of peer-reviewed journals consulted | Which of the following journals or publications do you typically consult in instances when you do not have sufficient information to treat or advise patients? Sum of items: Journal of the American Dental Association, General Dentistry, Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, other dental peer-reviewed (coded from open-ended responses). |
| Range of other published sources consulted | Which of the following journals or publications do you typically consult in instances when you do not have sufficient information to treat or advise patients? Sum of items: American Dental Association News, Dentistry Today, Inside Dentistry, other non-peer-reviewed (coded from open-ended responses) |
| Proportional mix of peer-reviewed journals and other published sources | E-I Index formula: (range of other published sources consulted − range of peer-reviewed journals consulted)/(range of other published sources consulted + range of peer-reviewed journals consulted) |
| Independent variables | |
| Clinical setting | |
| Solo practitioner | How many of the following, including yourself, work in your practice? (response = 1) (Dentist may work in private or other practice setting) |
| Dentist practices full-time | Do you work: full-time (1); part-time (0) |
| Dentist practices in one office | Do you work in: one office (1); multiple offices (0) |
| Number of complex procedures routinely conducted | Please indicate the frequency with which you personally perform the following procedures in a typical month (not at all, occasionally, routinely). Sum of respondent responses indicating that the following procedures were conducted routinely: (implants (prosthetic and surgical procedures for implants), periodontal therapy (surgical), endodontic therapy (surgical), endodontic therapy (molars), orthodontic treatment) |
| Number of standard procedures routinely conducted | Please indicate the frequency with which you personally perform the following procedures in a typical month (not at all, occasionally, routinely). Sum of respondent responses indicating that the following procedures were conducted routinely: (non-implant restorative (amalgams, composites, crowns, veneers, bridges, posts, foundations, etc), removable prosthetics (full and partial dentures), extractions (surgical and non-surgical), periodontal therapy (non-surgical, includes scaling/root planning), procedures for esthetic reasons only (composites, crowns, veneers, etc.), endodontic therapy (anteriors/pre-molars)). |
| Number of patients per week | On average, how many patients (both operative and hygiene combined) are seen overall in your practice per week? (1 = less than 21 patients, 2 = 21–30 patients, 3 = 31–40 patients, 4 = 41–50 patients, 5 = 51–60 patients, 6 = 61 patients or more) |
| Practice in rural area | Office located in county not adjacent to county with major metropolitan center |
| Human capital/PBRN skills motivation | |
| Advanced training | Completed either: FAGD, MAGD, GPR, AEGD, other advanced training (open-ended) |
| Research experience | Since you graduated from dental school, have you: (responded to at least one) (led a clinical study, worked on a clinical study team, personally applied for research funding) |
| PBRN skill motive | How important were the following reasons in your decision to enroll in the National Dental PBRN? (Learn about new techniques or activities relevant to: (answered “very important” to one of the following: learn about new techniques or activities relevant to my clinical practice, learn about new techniques or activities relevant to my practice management)) |
| Professional age | Years since dental school graduation |
| Demographics | |
| Female dentist | Are you: (male, female) |
| Under-represented minority dentist | Are you: (binary variable for affirmative responses for: Hispanic, African American, or Native American) |