Research Evidence Use in Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Dental Medicaid Class Action Lawsuits.

Little is known about research evidence use in dental Medicaid class action lawsuits. This qualitative study develops a conceptual model to understand the role of dentists and how research evidence was used. Archival analyses were conducted and 15 key informants interviewed. Dentists had key roles requiring scientific expertise or clinical experience serving vulnerable populations. Most evidence was newly generated, not based on existing sources. Dentists were involved in all phases of the lawsuits. Future research should identify conditions fostering research evidence use in dental Medicaid lawsuits and whether high-quality research evidence use improves child health outcomes.