Data linkage to investigate the association between obesity and dental caries in children, and the impact of Childsmile on obesity levels/inequalities in Scotland.

Start Date: Negotiable
Stipend: None

There is a lack of clear evidence for an association between dental caries and obesity in children in developed countries. Both diseases are highly prevalent in Scotland, are socially patterned and share common risk factors/determinants. Understanding the links will help shape future public health interventions to tackle such conditions that disproportionately affect the most disadvantaged in society.

Over the past 10 years, the Childsmile programme (www.child-smile.org) has improved oral health in children in Scotland, with substantial cost savings to the NHS. This complex intervention has multiple components and has adopted a proportionate universalism approach to achieve the twin aims of improving oral health for all, and reducing inequalities in oral health (and access to dental services). As obesity and dental caries share common risk factors (eg diet) and are both socially patterned, there is a need to evaluate whether the Childsmile programme has had an impact on obesity levels/inequalities in children across Scotland.

This PhD project will analyse linked population based datasets managed by Information Services Division, Scotland, to explore (i) the association between dental caries and obesity over time in 5 year old school children (ii) the social gradient to both diseases in this age group (iii) the impact of Childsmile intervention(s) (including diet) on obesity levels/inequalities over time, and (iv) rates of GA for dental extraction in obese/overweight children.

The results of this study will inform the future direction of public health interventions to tackle these diseases and reduce inequalities.

The successful candidate will ideally have a good first degree and/or MSc in a numerate discipline, with experience in statistical programming (using Stata, “R”, SAS or equivalent package).

The successful candidate will join a vibrant and motivated research team within the department of Community Oral Health, Glasgow Dental School (http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/dental/research/communityoralhealth/) with expertise in public health, statistics, epidemiology, evidence synthesis, development and evaluation of health policy and evaluation of complex interventions.

In addition, we will provide high-quality training to the student in subject-specific topics and transferrable research skills (quantitative research skills, design/ analysis/ interpretation of data, communication skills (verbal and written), research ethics and governance, good research practice including data management and integrity, systematic reviews) which will enhance their personal and professional development.