Methods. A questionnaire was sent to a sample of 6,310 ADA members in January 2000 with follow-up mailings in February, March and April 2000. Data collection was completed in July 2000. The survey included questions on critical professional issues, perceptions of the American Dental Association and its priorities. A total of 3,558 surveys were received for an adjusted response rate of 59.5 percent. Only professionally active dentists who were ADA members were included in the sampling frame.

Results. Members evaluated statements about the American Dental Association, revealing their perceptions of the ADA on key issues. Findings showed strong support for the ADA Seal program, agreement that the ADA enhances the integrity and ethics of the profession and that the ADA is the premier professional association for dentists. Findings also provided information regarding the relative importance of ADA priorities by allocating "dues dollars" in $5 increments. The highest priorities were "providing continuing education to dentists," "lobbying members of Congress and federal regulatory agencies" and "influencing national public health policy."

Conclusions. ADA members, both new and established dentists, had positive perceptions of the Association and its programs. Although there was general agreement between these groups concerning ADA priorities, there was a substantial difference between some subgroups (especially graduate students and federally employed dentists) and the overall membership on the issue of changes in the licensure process to facilitate dentists’ freedom of movement.

Practice Implications. The Association should continue to take into account the membership’s perceptions of the ADA and its priorities, as well as note issues of special interest to selected membership subgroups, in the planning and implementation of Association activities.

The samples we chose for this survey were not significantly different from the sampling frame with regard to demographic characteristics, as well as primary occupation, specialty and year graduated from dental school. To ensure that the results from the survey would reflect the overall population of member dentists, we weighted the results to account for oversampling of federally employed dentists and graduate students.

	RESULTS

TOP ABSTRACT METHODS AND MATERIALS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

 
Perceptions of the ADA. Respondents were asked to choose whether they "strongly agree," "agree," "disagree" or "strongly disagree" with a series of statements about the American Dental Association (Table 1). More than 80 percent of ADA members overall agreed ("strongly agree" plus "agree") with the following statements:

– "the ADA should set the standard for safe and effective professional products through the ADA Seal Program" (92.6 percent);

– "the ADA enhances the integrity and ethics of the profession" (91.3 percent);

– "the ADA is the premier professional association for dentists" (90.5 percent);

– "ADA members should be able to purchase ADA products and services online" (88.0 percent);

– "I recommend consumer products with the ADA Seal of Acceptance to my patients" (84.8 percent);

– "the ADA should develop an online, searchable database of clinical and scientific information to assist member dentists in patient treatment" (84.3 percent);

– "the ADA is the worldwide leader in dentistry" (83.5 percent).

A low percentage of members indicated agreement ("strongly agree" plus "agree") with three statements presented. All three of these statements were presented in the negative. They are

– "the ADA should not research the medical/dental conditions underlying dental procedures" (10.7 percent);

– "it does not matter to me whether or not professional dental products have the ADA Seal of Acceptance" (18.8 percent);

– "there is no need for the ADA to take a leadership position in making sure that adequate dental services are available worldwide" (28.9 percent).

In general, new dentist members—dentists who graduated from dental school less than 10 years previously—gave similar responses to those of members overall.

ADA priorities. Recognizing that balancing multiple priorities is a key responsibility of the Association, the ADA asked member dentists to help prioritize ADA efforts by assigning a dollar amount out of every $100 in member dues in $5 increments to specified activities (Table 2).

– "providing continuing education to dentists" ($9.62);

– "lobbying members of Congress and federal regulatory agencies" ($9.19);

– "influencing national public health policy" ($9.01).

The items with the lowest priority were

– "other" priorities written-in by respondents ($1.14);

– "facilitating growth in the numbers of qualified dental team members" ($3.29);

– "developing resources for member dentists on the Internet" ($3.55).

New dentist members allocated different amounts for some ADA activities compared with members overall. The items with the greatest disparity between new dentist members and members overall were

– "encouraging change in the licensure process to facilitate freedom of movement" ($10.19 vs. $7.77);

– "influencing national public health policy" ($8.07 vs. $9.01);

– "providing products and services to help dentists manage the business aspects of their practice" ($5.33 vs. $4.56).

New dentist members allocated $44 toward their top five priorities (Figure 1). The items with the highest priority included

View larger version (30K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. ADA activities with the highest priority among new dentist members.

– "encouraging change in the licensure process to facilitate freedom of movement" ($10.19);

– "providing continuing education to dentists" ($9.67);

– "lobbying members of Congress and federal regulatory agencies" ($8.70).

Figure 2 shows the lowest-priority items for new dentist members. They were

View larger version (29K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. ADA activities with the lowest priority among new dentist members.

– "other" written-in priorities ($1.08);

– "facilitating growth in the numbers of qualified dental team members" ($3.16);

– "developing resources for member dentists on the Internet" ($3.81).

Licensure is a key ADA priority for two membership subgroups: federally employed dentists (those employed full-time by the federal government in the military, public health, Veterans Affairs or civil service) and graduate students (dentists enrolled full-time in an advanced dental education program or residency) (Figure 3). While members overall said they would spend $7.77 of every $100 in dues on "encouraging change in the licensure process to facilitate freedom of movement," federally employed dentists said they would budget $19.58, and graduate student members said they would allot $16.79. Differences between the member groups we analyzed were significant at the P = .05 level.

View larger version (23K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Encouraging change in the licensure process to facilitate freedom of movement, all members vs. federally employed dentists vs. graduate students.

	CONCLUSIONS

TOP ABSTRACT METHODS AND MATERIALS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

View larger version (135K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Ms. Burgess is director, membership marketing and Committee on the New Dentist, ADA Division of Membership and Dental Society Services, American Dental Association, 211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611, e-mail "burgessk{at}ada.org". Address reprint requests to Ms. Burgess.

View larger version (134K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Mr. Ruesch is manager, Dentist Surveys, Survey Center, Health Policy Resources Center, American Dental Association, Chicago.

View larger version (143K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Mr. Mikkelsen is manager, Educational and Institutional Surveys, Survey Center, Health Policy Resources Center, American Dental Association, Chicago.

View larger version (141K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Ms. Schaid Wagner is the director, Survey Center, Health Policy Resources Center, American Dental Association, Chicago.