Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The clinical activity of many high-street dentists appears to be influenced by how they are paid. If dentists are paid for each item of treatment that they provide for patients (known as fee-for-service or FFS) e.g. fillings or dentures, there is a tendency to over-treat and do more fillings and dentures. However, if dentists are paid a set amount of money per month for each patient (known as capitation), there is a tendency to under-treat or see patients less frequently. This problem of dentists responding to the incentives within a payment system is evident in the National Health Service (NHS) across the United Kingdom. In Northern Ireland, high-street dentists working in the NHS have traditionally been paid on a FFS basis, but in 2015 the Government decided to undertake a large study that paid dentists on a capitation basis. The studies will run for a year and then change back to a FFS system of payment. This presents a unique opportunity to undertake a rigorous evaluation and provide evidence on the impact of changing payment systems in NHS dentistry. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a change in payment systems on the productivity of the dental team, the quality of the care provided and the patients’ experience.
Who can participate?
NHS dental practices in Northern Ireland.
What does the study involve?
The research team measure changes in clinical activity as dental practices move from being paid for what they do (FFS), to a capitation system and then back again to FFS. Participating practices and a group of practices that are not taking part are compared. In addition, the research team interviews patients and distributes questionnaires to pilot and non-pilot practices to assess dentists’ and patients’ views about these changes and how they affect the quality of care delivered.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The study will help inform policy makers across Europe who are grappling with the problems involved in re-designing dental services. It will also contribute valuable information to the health and social care system more broadly. No risk of participation in the study is envisaged.
Where is the study run from?
NHS dental practices in Northern Ireland.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2015 to May 2018.
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK).
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Paul Brocklehurst
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
14/19/12
Study information
Scientific title
Impact of a change to remuneration on the technical efficiency of dental practices: evaluation of the pilots of a new NHS Dental Contract in Northern Ireland
Acronym
Study hypothesis
The aim of the proposed research is to evaluate the impact of a change in the system of provider remuneration on the productivity, quality of care and health outcomes of dental services.
The objectives will be to measure changes in activity and costs over the different phases of the pilots; examining productivity, the service mix of key indicator treatments, time spent by dentists delivering patient care and co-payment income. In addition, the research will assess dentists’ and patients’ views about the extent to which changes in remuneration affect delivery and quality of care, measure patient-reported oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviour and patient-rated oral health outcomes and quality of care.
Ethics approval
University of Manchester University Research Ethics Committee (UREC), 10/06/2015, ref: 15236
Study design
Observational qualitative study
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Qualitative study
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Provision of general dental services
Intervention
The Health and Social Care Board are piloting a new way of paying dentists based on capitation, i.e. paying for the number of patients registered, rather than paying for individual items of treatment (FFS). Two phases are planned, the first will involve a small number of pilot practices over a six month period, which will be followed by a second phase with 15 practices over a period of 12 months. Practices would then return back to a FFS payment system.
The aim of the proposed research is to evaluate the impact of a change in the way that dentists are paid in NI on the productivity of the dental team and the quality of care provided. The objectives will be to measure changes in clinical activity as dentists move from being paid for what they do (FFS), to a capitation system and then back again to FFS. In addition, the research team will use interviews and questionnaires to assess dentists’ and patients’ views about these changes and how they affect the quality of care received.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Changes in activity and costs over the different phases of the study in terms of :
1. Productivity as measured by the mean quantity of care delivered per provider
2. Service mix as measured by the proportions of key indicator treatments; these include: examination plus scale and polish, radiographs, fillings, root canal therapy, crown and bridgework
3. Dentists’ time spent delivering patient care
4. Co-payment income
Secondary outcome measures
1. Dentists’ and patients’ views about how, why and to what extent the changes in remuneration affect the delivery and quality of care
2. Patient-reported oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviour
3. Patient-rated oral health outcomes and quality of care
Overall trial start date
01/07/2015
Overall trial end date
31/05/2018
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
NHS dental practices
Participant type
Health professional
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
1,000
Participant exclusion criteria
Private dental practices
Recruitment start date
18/08/2015
Recruitment end date
17/08/2016
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
NHS dental practices in Northern Ireland
-
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
NIHR HS&DR (UK)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
To be confirmed at a later date
Intention to publish date
17/05/2019
Participant level data
Stored in repository
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list