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. 2020 Jul 1;21(1):599.
doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04531-8.

Development of a core outcome set for oral health services research involving dependent older adults (DECADE): a study protocol

Sinead Watson  1 , Julie McMullan  2 , Paul Brocklehurst  3 , Georgios Tsakos  4 , Richard G Watt  4 , Rebecca R Wassall  5 , Andrea Sherriff  6 , Sheena E Ramsay  7 , Anup J Karki  8 , Sayaka Tada  9 , Caroline Lappin  10 , Michael Donaldson  11 , Gerald McKenna  2
Affiliations

Development of a core outcome set for oral health services research involving dependent older adults (DECADE): a study protocol

Sinead Watson et al. Trials. .

Abstract

Background: Oral healthcare service provision for dependent older adults is often poor. For dental services to provide more responsive and equitable care, evidence-based approaches are needed. To facilitate future research, the development and application of a core outcome set would be beneficial. The aim of this study is to develop a core outcome set for oral health services research involving dependent older adults.

Methods: A multi-step process involving consensus methods and including key stakeholders will be undertaken. This will involve identifying potentially relevant outcomes through a systematic review of previous studies examining the effectiveness of strategies to prevent oral disease in dependent older adults, combined with semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. Stakeholders will include dependent older adults, family members, carers, care-home managers, health professionals, researchers, dental commissioners and policymakers. To condense and prioritise the long list of outcomes generated by the systematic review and semi-structured interviews, a Delphi survey consisting of several rounds with key stakeholders, as mentioned above, will be undertaken. The 9-point Likert scale proposed by the GRADE Working Group will facilitate this consensus process. Following the Delphi survey, a face-to-face consensus meeting with key stakeholders will be conducted where the stakeholders will anonymously vote and decide on what outcomes should be included in the finalised core outcome set.

Discussion: Developing a core set of outcomes that are clinically and patient-centred will help improve the design, conduct and reporting of oral health services research involving dependent older adults, and ultimately strengthen the evidence base for high-quality oral health care for dependent older adults.

Trial registration: The study was registered with the COMET initiative on 9 January 2018 http://www.cometinitiative.org/studies/details/1081?result=true .

Keywords: Aged; Consensus; Delphi technique; Frail elderly; Oral health.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
SPIRIT figure; schedule of enrolment and interventions
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Multi-step process used to develop the COS for oral health services research involving older adults
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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