Editorial - Saudi Dental Journal

ISSN (Print) 1013-9052
EISSN 1658-3558

The Saudi Dental Journal,
P.O. Box 52500,
Riyadh 11563,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Tel.	966-1-467-7328
Fax.	933-1-467-7308 / 966-1-467-7534
Email	saudidj@ksu.edu.sa

Editorial

Health Services Research And The Saudi Dental Journal

I wish to congratulate the Saudi Dental Journal in having attained the status of a refereed journal. The national Journal is, thus, recognized as being dedicated to excellence in research that will contribute to better oral health and care of people in the Kingdom and the region. The editorial committee bears great responsibility for encouraging appropriate research by promoting discussion of priority areas, such as research into the functioning and quality of health services.
Historically, research in the oral health sector has concentrated in the areas of materials and techniques, diagnosis and treatment. Laboratory research and clinical case studies were seen as more important and scientifically valid than health services research that addresses such topics as use of services, assessment of effectiveness, quality and costs of prevention and treatment.
Health services research in oral health has evolved dramatically. Initially, it was mainly concerned with epidemiological studies to define the type, size and extent of oral problems in different populations- From 1956, when the World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Programme was first established in Geneva, until 1971, the programme activities concentrated primarily on developing standard epidemiological methods and in assisting countries to collect data on their own oral diseases problems. The methods developed are now recognized as world standards for oral epidemiology.
Since 1973, health services research has proceeded in two directions. In industrialized countries, descriptive analytical studies have concentrated on studying the functioning, efficacy and health outcomes of existing oral services. WHO pioneered this type of research in the oral sector through the International Collaborative Studies of
Oral Health and Care Outcome conducted over the period 1973 to 1993.
The other direction that health services research has taken is the identification and evaluation of care and technology for population in developing countries in an effort to ensure basic oral health and care for all communities. WHO's principal role in developing countries is to participate, with national authorities, in situation analyses and in preparing national plans of action. These analyses often lead to the formulation of research projects to explore ways of extending effective, economically realistic prevention and care to under-served communities.
As in any country with sophisticated oral care services, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could benefit from analytical health services research. There are also communities in the country and in neighboring countries that would benefit from research to identify alternative approaches for oral health care.
A national scientific journal can encourage the development of a balanced research agenda, by adopting a policy that ensures publication in each volume, of studies from priority areas, e.g. epidemiology, health services research and clinical trials as well as unusual case histories and treatment assessments.
This potential for increasing the quality and relevance of research in oral health care, both nationally and regionally, is an opportunity to be seized at this turning point in the Journal's history. I wish the Saudi Dental Journal every success in an important but sometimes difficult task.

Dr. David Barmes

Chief Oral Health Programme
World Health Organization
Geneva, Switzerland