NIH: Oral Health Promotion Research across the Lifespan (R01)

Sponsor: The National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The goal of health promotion research is to develop and test approaches and interventions that improve and promote health and prevent diseases of individuals, families and communities including those with health disparities. Specifically, health promotion research explores approaches that if successful will enable people and communities to influence or control determinants of health to prevent diseases and promote health. It requires a thorough understanding of the role and interactions of complex social, cultural, behavioral, environmental, biological and other determinants of health and health problems. While health promotion interventions are wide-ranging and may draw upon health services and health policy research, this FOA is focused on behavioral, clinical, social, educational or combined approaches for the general population or for those with health disparities. In addition this research can focus on health determinants that relate to more than one disease or condition, and determinants that strengthen the overall health of individuals and groups such as appropriate diet and prevention of tobacco use. The outcomes of this research will help individuals, families, communities, health care practitioners and institutions support practices and lifestyles that offer optimal health and well-being.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is intended to encourage the development of oral health promotion research directed at improving oral health across the lifespan. This research on the prevention of oral diseases and/or their sequelae could focus on any of the following areas: 1) maternal and child health, 2) adolescent and young adult health and 3) the health of adults with complex diseases in the general population or those with health disparities.

Health Promotion

Health promotion strategies that are most likely to achieve the desired results must be grounded in theory. Examples of behavioral theories used in health promotion include those at an individual or intrapersonal level (stages of change, theory of planned behavior and precaution adoption model); interpersonal level (social cognitive theory) and community level (diffusion of innovation theory and communication theory). After identifying the nature of the behavior then planning models are useful for the development, implementation and testing of interventions. Examples of planning models used in health promotion are: PRECEDE-PROCEED and social marketing. In addition, health promotion theories are emerging particularly for reducing health disparities in vulnerable populations and communities. The involvement of communities is essential to health promotion research and may include community-based participatory research.

Scope and objectives

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is intended to encourage the development, implementation and testing of oral health promotion interventions directed at improving oral health across the lifespan and may focus on those populations with health disparities. The research team must include someone with extensive experience in health promotion, environmental, behavioral and /or social science research. The health promotion intervention must be based on a previously conducted assessment of the epidemiology, social, behavioral and /or environmental factors related to the disease or condition to study. The assessment could have been funded by NIDCR or other sources. This research on prevention of oral diseases and/or their sequelae could focus in any of the following areas: 1) maternal and child health, 2) adolescent and young adult health and 3) the health of adults with complex diseases and may be focused on those populations with health disparities. The studies in response to this announcement would: a) apply or adapt existing behavioral or health promotion theories and planning research models to known risk factors and lifestyle aspects of oral diseases and conditions, b) promote optimal oral health of individuals, families and communities in the context of overall health and co-morbidities, and/or c) integrate oral health promotion into general health promotion programs.

The following examples are not meant to be inclusive or restrictive. Applications on other areas not explicitly listed below but that fall within the goals of this FOA are welcomed.

-Studies that include innovative approaches involving families, social networks, communities or neighborhoods and that are designed to enhance behaviors promoting and improving oral health.

-Studies on ways to improve patient-provider communication related to oral preventive measures.

-Studies on outcomes including the quality of life for patients with craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip and palate and special needs.

-Investigations that test the capacity of family and caregiver roles in oral health education and oral disease prevention for the entire family.

-Studies on best dissemination approaches and settings to optimize the use and outcomes of known preventive strategies for dental caries and other oral conditions among adolescents and young adults.

-Studies that test innovative ways to improve patient-provider communication related to oral preventive measures.

-Studies that incorporate oral health promotion into aligned practices and behaviors of individuals, providers, caregivers and institutions for other diseases and conditions.

-Studies that integrate oral health into diabetes maintenance and other chronic diseases (for example, asthma) health promotion programs in a range of settings.

-Studies that develop and test effective ways to train oral health professional students to communicate with diverse patient populations.

-Studies that address the full range of environmental, social, cultural and behavioral determinants of oral health disparities through health promotion strategies at multiple levels

Amount: Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.

Deadline: February 5, June 5, and October 5 until March 3, 2010

For further information, please visit: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-225.html