Preferences for peer-reviewed versus other publication sources: a survey of general dentists in the National Dental PBRN

Dentists' attitudes and practices toward evidence-based dentistry: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Considering that attitudes toward evidence-based dentistry (EBD) may predict implementation behaviors, the objective of this systematic review was to synthesize and evaluate the existing evidence related to dentists' attitudes and practices toward EBD.

METHODS

We included primary studies that collected information from interviews, questionnaires, or conversation sessions with dentists. The following sources were searched: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, in addition to gray literature. The included studies were appraised according to the assessment tools recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute for qualitative and quantitative observational studies. Descriptive data were collected in standardized tables and descriptively synthesized.

RESULTS

The selection process resulted in 36 included studies. Dentists share positive opinions about EBD and predominantly report willingness to learn or adopt these practices. Despite high methodological risks and significant heterogeneity, the results collected in this review indicated that scientific journals, clinical practice guidelines, and trusted colleagues are generally perceived as influential and useful by dentists, who highly consulted these information sources.

CONCLUSION

Despite supportive reported attitudes toward EBD, very low certainty exists about actual EBD-related practices.

Egyptian physicians' information-seeking behavior while serving in public isolation hospitals for coronavirus patients

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the information-seeking behavior of Egyptian physicians serving in COVID-19 isolation hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 91 physicians serving in Egyptian isolation hospitals answered the study questionnaire.

Findings

Demographically, more than half of respondents were males. Over one-third of them are holding Doctor of Medicine (M.D), followed by one-third holding Master of Medicine (MMed). Respondents' age ranged from 30 to 60 years. Internal medicine is the most common specialty, accounting for nearly half of all physicians, followed by chest medicine and intensive care medicine. The information-seeking behavior of these three groups in their regular work is believed to be different, but since all of the participants are working in COVID-19 isolation hospitals, they should have the same information resources, Internet access and the same needs relevant to COVID-19 in order to make accurate clinical decisions. The physicians used traditional and electronic information sources to fulfill their information needs, the most important of which were to make a specific research, find an answer to a specific case, and deliver a medical lecture. Colleagues, coworkers, nurses and pharmacists were the most important channels pursued by Egyptian physicians to obtain information.

Originality/value

This study is the first study that focuses on investigating the information-seeking behavior of Egyptian physicians serving in isolation hospitals. Any findings resulted from this study may serve as a noteworthy reference that may be useful to the Egyptian health sector, experts, researchers, as well as policymakers in establishing strategic decisions for making the understating much better.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-08-2020-0350

The association between professional stratification and use of online sources: Evidence from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network

The use of online information sources in most professions is widespread, and well researched. Less understood is how the use of these sources vary across the strata within a single profession, and how question context affects search behaviour. Using the dental profession as a case of a highly stratified discipline, we examine search preferences for sources by professional strata among dentists in a practice-based network. Results show that variation exists in information search behaviour across professional strata of dental clinicians. This study highlights the importance of addressing information literacy across different levels of a profession. Findings also underscore that search behaviour and source preference vary with perceived question relevance.

Association between predoctoral evidence-based practice training and later use of peer-reviewed journals: National dental PBRN

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether evidence-based practice (EBP) during dental school was associated with the increased use of peer-reviewed literature during subsequent clinical practice for National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) dentists. We also sought to understand whether this association was moderated by being a dental specialist.

METHODS

We analyzed cross-sectional data from 1228 dentists participating in the PBRN. We used logistic regression to examine the association between self-reported EBP training during dental school and the use of peer-reviewed journals in clinical practice, controlling for the number of years since dental school graduation and dental practice type. We stratified the data by dental specialists and examined effect modification using the Breslow-Day test for homogeneity of the odds ratio.

RESULTS

The prevalence of peer-reviewed journal use by PBRN dentists in clinical practice was 87% (n = 1070) with no statistical evidence of effect modification by dental specialists on the EBP peer-reviewed journal use relationship (p > 0.05). After controlling for years since dental school graduation and dental practice type, dentists who self-reported EBP training during dental school had greater odds of using peer-reviewed journals in clinical practice than dentists who did not self-report EBP training during dental school (OR, 1.47; 95%CI = 1.01, 2.15).

CONCLUSION

The use of peer-reviewed published literature by PBRN dentists who had EBP predoctoral training is one important step in the EBP process by which practicing dentists can implement evidence-based findings, interventions, and policies into routine health care and public health settings. These findings add to the body of support for EBP curricula in dental education.

Evidence-practice gap in minimal intervention dentistry: Findings from a dental practice-based research network

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to 1) quantify the evidence-practice gap (EPG) between dental clinical practice and published evidence on Minimal Intervention Dentistry (MID) among dentists in Japan; and 2) examine the hypothesis that dentist characteristics have a significant association with the EPG.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study via use of a web-based questionnaire survey of dentists who were affiliated with the Dental Practice-based Research Network Japan (n = 297). To quantify the EPG on MID, we used a questionnaire that included 10 clinical questions or scenarios to assess concordance between dental practice and published evidence on MID. We evaluated concordance by coding responses to each question as consistent or inconsistent with the evidence. An overall concordance was then determined as percent of responses that were consistent with published evidence for 10 questions. Subsequently, multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between dentist characteristics and higher overall concordance (≥median) with published evidence.

RESULTS

Mean and median overall dentist-level concordance were both 60 % (SD: 18, interquartile range: 50-75 %). Logistic regression analysis showed that "gender of dentist", "city population", and "frequency of obtaining evidence from the scientific journal articles in English" were significantly associated with high concordance, with odds ratios (95 % CIs) of 2.33 (1.01-5.39), 2.01 (1.02-3.96), and 2.45 (1.08-5.59), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Japanese dentists demonstrated medium concordance with published evidence, indicating that an EPG on MID exists in Japanese dental clinical practices. Dentist-specific characteristics had significant associations with high concordance with published evidence.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Despite the establishment and dissemination of the concept of MID, the EPG on MID exists in Japanese dental clinical practices. A high concordance was significantly associated with the following dentist characteristics: "female dentist", "dental clinic location in a government-ordinance-designated city", and "frequently obtaining evidence from the English-language scientific journal articles".

Dentistry 4.0 Concept in the Design and Manufacturing of Prosthetic Dental Restorations

The paper is a comprehensive but compact review of the literature on the state of illnesses of the human stomatognathic system, related consequences in the form of dental deficiencies, and the resulting need for prosthetic treatment. Types of prosthetic restorations, including implants, as well as new classes of implantable devices called implant-scaffolds with a porous part integrated with a solid core, as well as biological engineering materials with the use of living cells, have been characterized. A review of works on current trends in the technical development of dental prosthetics aiding, called Dentistry 4.0, analogous to the concept of the highest stage of Industry 4.0 of the industrial revolution, has been presented. Authors’ own augmented holistic model of Industry 4.0 has been developed and presented. The studies on the significance of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in planning prosthetic treatment, as well as in the design and manufacture of prosthetic restorations, have been described. The presented and fully digital approach is a radical turnaround in both clinical procedures and the technologies of implant preparation using computer-aided design and manufacturing methods (CAD/CAM) and additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, including selective laser sintering (SLS). The authors’ research illustrates the practical application of the Dentistry 4.0 approach for several types of prosthetic restorations. The development process of the modern approach is being observed all over the world. The use of the principles of the augmented holistic model of Industry 4.0 in advanced dental engineering indicates a change in the traditional relationship between a dentist and a dental engineer. The overall conclusion demonstrates that it is inevitable and extremely beneficial to implement the idea of Dentistry 4.0 following the assumptions of the authors’ own, holistic Industry 4.0 model.

Dentists' practice patterns of treatment for deep occlusal caries: Findings from a dental practice-based research network

OBJECTIVES

This study quantified and compared practice patterns of treatment for deep occlusal carious lesions among Japanese dentists, and tested the hypothesis that dentist characteristics are significantly associated with the decision to choose an indirect pulp capping (IPC), a form of selective carious tissue removal that involves leaving a thin layer of demineralized tissue over the pulp, that is then covered with a protective liner.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire survey of dentists affiliated with the Dental Practice-based Research Network Japan (n = 297). Dentists were asked to indicate what percentage of time they use three treatment options when treating patients with deep occlusal caries and possible mild pulpitis on a posterior tooth. Response options were "1. Stop before removing all caries and perform an IPC", "2. Remove all caries and proceed with a direct pulp cap", and "3. Remove all caries and proceed with endodontic-related procedures". Percentages of options 1-3 were compared by multiple comparison. Associations between dentist characteristics and a higher percentage of IPC provision (option 1) were analyzed via logistic regression.

RESULTS

Responses were obtained from 206 dentists. Median percentages (interquartile ranges) of options 1, 2 and 3 were 30% (10-59%), 10% (0-30%), and 40% (19-80%), respectively. The differences between option 3 and options 1 and 2 were significant (p < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, a higher frequency of obtaining evidence from English-language scientific articles was significantly associated with a higher percentage of IPC, with an odds ratio of 2.28 (95%CI: 1.14-4.54).

CONCLUSIONS

Endodontic-related procedures remain the most frequent treatment option for deep occlusal caries. Frequent use of evidence-based information in English-language scientific articles was associated with Japanese dentists' preference toward IPC.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Japanese dentists would most frequently choose endodontic-related procedures, followed by IPC and direct pulp capping for treatment of patients with deep occlusal caries with possible mild pulpitis on posterior teeth. Significant association was identified between use of evidence-based information in the English-language scientific literature and Japanese dentists' preference for IPC.