PUBLICATION
A National Research Agenda for Improving Oral Health Outcomes: A Call to Action for Community Engagement
Community engagement is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of effective health research, particularly for addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. Despite its importance, community-engaged research remains underutilized within oral health, and therefore, opportunities to inform interventions that are culturally responsive, sustainable, and attuned to the needs of underserved populations remain untapped. This underutilization limits the development of interventions that are tailored to the unique needs of diverse populations, including those in rural areas, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ communities.
This report was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding and expanding patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research. PCORI emphasizes CEnR as a foundation for CER, recognizing that patient and stakeholder involvement enhances the relevance, adoption, and impact of research findings. When applied to oral health, CEnR strengthens CER by aligning research priorities with community-identified needs, addressing real barriers to care, and empowering populations historically excluded from the research process.
Key Takeaways:
A national survey of stakeholders informed community engagement tactics, gaps in the research infrastructure, and goals for effective patient-centered CER.
Top barriers to community engagement in oral health research include lack of interest, insufficient funding, lack of resources, and time constraints.
More than 80 research questions were developed by community members, clinicians, researchers, and academicians with an emphasis on using patient-centered CER as a framework.
This publication serves as a roadmap for justice-centered, patient-informed change in oral health research.
Suggested Citation: The American Institute of Dental Public Health. A National Research Agenda for Improving Oral Health Outcomes: A Call to Action for Community Engagement. Chicago, IL. May 2025. https://doi.org/10.58677/OYRR5087
