Process and outcome evaluation of the Oral Health Improvement through Outreach (OHIO) Project

Academic dental institutions serve a foundational role in meeting the oral health needs of Americans through community‐based learning experiences. Purpose The purpose of this study was to longitudinally evaluate an ongoing primary objective of the Oral Health Improvement through Outreach (OHIO) Project Program, which is to build strong partnerships between The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Dentistry (CoD) and community‐based dental facilities and increase access to dental care for underserved populations. Methods Upon exempt Institutional Review Board approval (2004H0067), a longitudinal evaluation study was conducted of 15 years of the OHIO Project during the 2004–2019 academic years. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the OHIO Project using process and outcome evaluation methods. Results The data from 107,510 patients were analyzed. Process evaluation revealed the OHIO Project has been reaching the target population of communities with dental care needs and limited access, as evidenced by the main methods of patient payment/non‐payment and the quantity of completed restorative/oral surgery procedures. Outcome evaluation revealed the OHIO Project has been building strong partnerships between the CoD and communities to address dental care needs and improve access, as evidenced by the increased number and distribution of the community‐based facilities throughout Ohio. Conclusion Process and outcome evaluation revealed the OHIO Project has been meeting its primary goal of building strong partnerships between the CoD and OHIO Project community‐based facilities to address the basic dental needs and increase access for Ohio residents. Future research is needed to evaluate the dental student impact of providing community‐based care.