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Evidence‐Based Practice Among a Group of Malaysian Dental Practitioners
Author(s) -
Yusof Zamros Y.M.,
Han Lee Jin,
San Poon Pei,
Ramli Anis S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2008.72.11.tb04616.x
Subject(s) - family medicine , medicine , evidence based practice , psychology , alternative medicine , pathology
The objective of this study was to assess dentists’ knowledge and use of evidence‐based practice (EBP), including their attitudes toward and perceptions of barriers that limit the use of EBP. A cross‐sectional survey was used with self‐administered questionnaires involving dental practitioners in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. One hundred ninety‐three replies were returned, for a response rate of 50.3 percent. More than two‐thirds (135/193, 69.9 percent) of the respondents had heard of EBP. Out of the 135 respondents who had heard of EBP, a majority agreed it was a decision‐making process based on evidence (127/135, 94.2 percent) and involved a series of steps from formulating the research question, locating and assessing the evidence, to applying it if suitable (129/135, 95.6 percent). Out of the 135 respondents who had heard of EBP, a high percentage agreed that EBP improved their knowledge and skills (132/135, 97.8 percent) and treatment quality (132/135, 97.8 percent). For advice, a majority of the 135 respondents frequently consulted friends and colleagues (123/135, 91.1 percent), made referrals (120/135, 88.9 percent), consulted textbooks (112/135, 83.0 percent), and referred to electronic databases (90/135, 66.7 percent). Out of the 135 respondents, many perceived EBP as very important (59/135, 43.7 percent) and important (58/135, 43.0 percent) and were interested to learn further information about EBP (132/135, 97.8 percent). The main reported barriers were lack of time (87/135, 64.4 percent), financial constraints (54/135, 40.0 percent), and lack of knowledge (38/135, 28.1 percent). A majority of the 135 respondents had knowledge of and positive attitudes towards EBP. However, due to barriers, a majority of them preferred colleagues, textbooks, and referrals for advice instead of seeking evidence from electronic databases.