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Behaviour Change in Dentistry - the BeCinD Network

A network of researchers, clinicians and educators leading the behaviour change agenda in dentistry. Established by Dr Koula Asimakopoulou from King's College London and Dr Georgios Kitsaras from the University of Manchester. 

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Aims

To improve oral health through the application of evidence-based behaviour change science.

Mission Statement:

Lead the behaviour change agenda in the UK and support oral health care teams in clinical, research and professional development activity using the best available science on the topic.

Create a space to bring together behavioural change science and oral health researchers, educators and clinicians with the view of exchanging knowledge, deciding on big questions to tackle.

Work collegiately to support the translation of research findings into clinical practice and policy.

Liaise with organisations such as Higher Education (HE) institutions and industry to undertake research, use this research to inform teaching of dental teams and consult with individuals, policy makers, clinicians and other healthcare professionals to enrich professional practice.

Promote the transformation of dental curricula with the inclusion of distinct and appropriate behavioural input across all years of undergraduate and postgraduate dental education.

Collaborate on applications for research grant funding to answer research questions in the field.

Methods

Network Structure:

We are interested in behaviour per se, with a particular focus on the interrelationships between, dental patients, the population, people, policy and practice. The purpose of the network is to collaborate, inform, educate, research and ultimately translate findings into clinical practice.

Impact

Consensus statement:

Following the success of the 2020 Behavioural and Social Oral Health Sciences Summit organised by the Behavioural, Epidemiology and Health Services Research (BEHSR) group of IADR, a publication on the future of oral health behavioural and social sciences at JDR marks another important milestone.

The publication, a collaborative, international work represents a significant turning point for dental and oral health research. Across 5 target areas, the publication reflects on past and current developments while showcasing the exciting future that lies ahead for behavioural and social sciences in oral health through specific directions and actions.

This publication coincides with the recent PHE national guidance on Delivering Better Oral Health where oral health behaviour change received a much needed and overdue dedicated space with, now, a clear mandate for dental teams to proactively incorporate behaviour change in routine practice.

Behaviour change is making strides in the dental world and the recent JDR publication is a major leap in the right direction. BeCinD members have been strongly involved in this initiative. 

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00220345211068033 

Collaborators:

King's College London:

Dr Koula Asimakopoulou
Prof. Avijit Banerjee
Prof. Mark Ide
Prof. Tim Newton

Other collaborators:

Prof. Sarah Baker, University of Sheffield, UK
Dr. Heather Buchanan, University of Nottingham, UK
Prof. Iain Chapple, University of Birmingham, UK
Dr. Rebecca Craven, University of Manchester, UK
Prof. Blanaid Daly, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Dr. Dimitris Emmanouil, University of Athens, Greece
Dr. Richard Hogan, Colgate
Prof. Zoe Marshman, University of Sheffield, UK
Dr. Dan McNeil, West Virginia University, USA
Dr. Ian Mills, Peninsula Dental School, and Faculty of General Dental Practice, UK
Prof. Iain Pretty, University of Manchester, UK
Dr. Cameron Randall, University of Washington, US
Dr. Chris Vernazza, University of Newcastle, UK
Dr. Caroline Wood, BUPA

 

Collaborators:

King's College London:

Dr Koula Asimakopoulou
Prof. Avijit Banerjee
Prof. Mark Ide
Prof. Tim Newton

Other collaborators:

Prof. Sarah Baker, University of Sheffield, UK
Dr. Heather Buchanan, University of Nottingham, UK
Prof. Iain Chapple, University of Birmingham, UK
Dr. Rebecca Craven, University of Manchester, UK
Prof. Blanaid Daly, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Dr. Dimitris Emmanouil, University of Athens, Greece
Dr. Richard Hogan, Colgate
Prof. Zoe Marshman, University of Sheffield, UK
Dr. Dan McNeil, West Virginia University, USA
Dr. Ian Mills, Peninsula Dental School, and Faculty of General Dental Practice, UK
Prof. Iain Pretty, University of Manchester, UK
Dr. Cameron Randall, University of Washington, US
Dr. Chris Vernazza, University of Newcastle, UK
Dr. Caroline Wood, BUPA

 

Our Partners

University of Nottingham

University of Nottingham

University of Birmingham logo

University of Birmingham

Trinity College Dublin

Trinity College Dublin

Colgate Palmolive

Colgate Palmolive

University of Athens

University of Athens

West Virginia University

West Virginia University

University of Plymouth

Peninsula Dental School, University of Plymouth

University of Washington

University of Washington

BUPA

BUPA

Project status: Ongoing
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Principal Investigators

Contact us

Network Co-founders: 

King's College London: Dr Koula Asmakopoulou Koula.Asimakopoulou@kcl.ac.uk

University of Manchester: Dr Georgios Kitsaras Georgios.kitsaras@manchester.ac.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BECINDNetwork