InteRvention to rEduce inequaliTies in the Uptake of Routine deNtal care - RETURN main trial
Oral and dental health
The RETURN main trial is a randomised controlled open trial to develop and test a way to improve the routine use of dental services by deprived populations, by delivering a psychological intervention personalised to participants to address the significant barriers to attending regular dental appointments and to encourage behavioural changes. Participants who are over 18 and who speak English (as judged by the trained dental team member or researcher) will be given a flyer informing them that a research project is taking place in the dental practice. Posters/banners will also be in the waiting room. They will then be approached by a trained dental team member or researcher, and those participants who do not have their own dentist and have not visited a dentist for a period of two years or more (unless they were in pain or symptomatic) and do not have a dentist who they visit regularly for routine care will be entered onto the RETURN screening log by a trained RETURN researcher (either dental team member, or a member of the research team) and consent for participation in the randomised controlled trial will be sought. If the participant agrees to take part in the study then a full check of the eligibility criteria will be completed. If eligible, the patient will be randomised to either the RETURN intervention or standard of care at their treating dental practice/hospital (randomisation is a ratio of 1:1). The contact details (address, telephone number and email address) of the participant will be collected on a tablet PC via a secure contact database held by the Liverpool Clinical Trials Centre (LCTC). Collection of this information is essential to allow for central follow up at 6, 12 and 18 months and for Business Authority Services (BSA) data on dental visits to be obtained. Participants will be asked for all three contact details, but it is only a requirement to provide one. The participant will then complete some questionnaires to capture: demographic informati
1. Adults (aged 18 years or over) seeking urgent dental care 2. Has not visited an NHS or Private dentist for a non-emergency appointment (i.e. when not in pain or symptomatic) for 2 years or more, and do not have a dentist who they visit regularly for routine care 3. Able to provide either a telephone number, email or postal address to allow follow up 4. Has provided written consent 5. Adequate understanding of spoken and written English 6. Responsible for making their own dental appointments i.e. not done by a carer
1. Have previously been enrolled in the RETURN feasibility study or main trial 2. Lives with, or related to, a participant in the RETURN feasibility study or main trial Note: Patients who go on to have planned care with undergraduate students will not be excluded, although the route patients’ take to planned care will be reported.