Comparing the treatment provided by UK and non-UK trained health professionals: dentists in Scotland.

Objectives: To examine differences in the amount of treatment provided by UK and non-UK trained dentists in the Scottish National Health Service.

Methods: Using a unique administrative data set, we utilize multivariate fixed effects regression models that control for patient characteristics and unobserved heterogeneity across dentists to explore the extent of treatment delivered.

Results: Non-UK trained dentists initially provide more treatment than UK-trained dentists, but over approximately two years of practice their treatment converge.

Untangling a complex issue: an overview of initiatives to support nursing and midwifery student recruitment, selection and retention in Scottish Universities.

The reasons behind attrition rates in nursing and midwifery are many and complex. However, of the four UK countries, Scotland has been consistently cited as having the highest attrition rate from its pre-registration nursing and midwifery education programmes. This paper provides an overview of a nationally coordinated programme of work to support evidence-based intervention and identifies both opportunities for further national and international initiatives and presents early indicators of improvement in retention and completion.

The translation research in a dental setting (TRiaDS) programme protocol.

Background: It is well documented that the translation of knowledge into clinical practice is a slow and haphazard process. This is no less true for dental healthcare than other types of healthcare. One common policy strategy to help promote knowledge translation is the production of clinical guidance, but it has been demonstrated that the simple publication of guidance is unlikely to optimise practice.

Treatment intensity and provider remuneration: dentists in the British National Health Service.

Dental service providers in the British National Health Service (NHS) operate under a number of remuneration arrangements that give rise to different incentives. Using data derived from the Scottish dental system, we examine the relationships between remuneration, patient exemption status and treatment intensity. After controlling for differences in patient need and dentist-specific preferences, we find that self-employed dentists treat patients who are exempt from payment more intensively than their salaried counterparts.

An economic analysis of implementing the SIGN third molar guideline: implications for the design and analysis of implementation studies.

Objectives: To compare the cost-effectiveness of four third molar guideline implementation strategies.

Methods: Fifty-one dental practices in Scotland were randomized to one of four implementation strategies. The effectiveness of the strategies was measured by general dental practitioners' compliance with the guideline.