Dr. Speer is concerned about how some of the data could be used—specifically ZIP code data. As he asserts, such data could be used to profile some dentists living in a specific geographic area. But it is important to bear in mind that the Survey of Dental Practice is a sample survey, involving no more than about 4 percent to 5 percent of the nation’s active private practitioners.
The ZIP code information is used only to group dentists into U.S. Census regions during the data analysis process. There are many variances across the United States, and this helps the reader to understand them. As noted in a cover letter from the ADA Survey Center, each survey participant is assured that his or her name will not be associated with answers provided. "The results from this project will be published in aggregate form only," the letter states.
Dr. Speer also expresses concern about cover-letter language indicating that "no identifying information will be voluntarily released." Such information from the survey is not sold or released, except in aggregate form or in published reports. The Association does not release unique identifiers or the data associated with them.
ADA-collected survey research data are sold in published reports in part to increase nondues revenue for the Association. The House of Delegates has encouraged the Association to seek sources of funding to supplement membership dues. The information published from surveys such as the one Dr. Speer received is of interest to others outside the ADA membership. By providing the reports to these individuals and groups at an increased charge (three times the member rate), the Association is able to collect additional nondues revenue.
The Survey of Dental Practice was initiated in the early 1950s and has been conducted annually since 1982. Its purpose is to provide information on characteristics of the private practice of dentistry in the United States. It has become the central means for providing current, continuing information on dental practice each year, and is conducted in partial response to Res, 124H-1981, adopted by the ADA House of Delegates.
The sample survey includes detailed questions on the number of patient visits to the dentist, hours and weeks worked in private practice, net income from private practice, occupational status, employment status, expenses, auxiliary employment and wages, as well as other selected characteristics of a dental practice.
Unfortunately, the cost of producing the reports prohibits free distribution to all ADA members. However, the ADA Library has several copies of each Survey Center publication, available on loan to ADA members.
