6th German Oral Health Study (DMS • 6): fieldwork, data collection, and quality assurance.

The primary aim of the DMS • 6 was to assess the current oral health status, oral health behavior, and the dental care status in Germany. For this purpose, both new study participants and participants from the preceding DMS V study underwent clinical examinations and social science surveys. The clinical examinations followed a standardized protocol outlined in a manual. The social science survey was conducted in two parts: a paper and pencil interview (PAPI) completed at home and a computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) administered immediately before the clinical examination in the study center. A non-response survey showed no systematic differences between study participants and non-participants, indicating an unbiased data basis. Quality assurance: The DMS • 6 included a comprehensive examination program supported by a multi-stage quality assurance system. This system involved pre-testing of the social science research instruments, conducting a pilot study to simulate the main study, multiple training sessions, and the calibration and certification of the dental study personnel both before and during fieldwork. This ensured a high level of data validity.