Collaborative Research with PDSE Recognised by International Health Equity Award
We are proud to share that the research paper, Economic evaluation of a community dental care model for people experiencing homelessness, led by Tan Nguyen (Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia) in collaboration with Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE), has been recognised with the 2025 International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) Judith Albino Award for Outstanding Research in Health Equity. We were delighted to recently celebrate with Tan on receipt of the official IADR award plaque.
Tan Nguyen, Health Economist and Lead Author, said:
“People from all walks of life should be afforded the equal opportunity to receive essential healthcare regardless of their circumstances, without shame or embarrassment. I have had the privilege to work with Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise to demonstrate the economic value of oral healthcare provided for people experiencing homelessness. We hope the work provides actionable insights for governments and commissioners to fund oral healthcare in more flexible ways that meet the needs of different population groups.”
The award-winning research provides the first economic evaluation of a dedicated community dental care model for people experiencing homelessness, based on the PDSE service model. The study found the programme to be a cost-effective intervention, generating significant health gains while reducing inequalities in access to care, and value for money.
Using health economic modelling, the study demonstrated that for every £1 invested in the programme, an additional £2.02 in health and social benefit was generated, while the intervention was shown to be 100% cost-effective against accepted willingness-to-pay thresholds. The findings provide important evidence for commissioners considering more flexible, needs-led approaches to dental service provision.
Martha Paisi, Research Lead at PDSE, commented:
“We were delighted to contribute to this important work and to see Tan’s research recognised internationally. The findings reinforce that equity-focused, community-based dental care can improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness while also representing good value for the health system. We hope the study informs future commissioning decisions and supports wider adoption of models that reduce inequalities in access to care.”
This recognition highlights the value of collaborative research in generating evidence that can influence policy and improve care for underserved communities.
Read the full article here.
Find out more about the research projects being delivered at PDSE here.
