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Informational Resources Utilized in Clinical Decision Making: Common Practices in Dentistry
Author(s) -
StraubMorarend Cheryl L.,
Marshall Teresa A.,
Holmes David C.,
Finkelstein Michael W.
Publication year - 2011
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.0022-0337.2011.75.4.tb05068.x
Subject(s) - graduation (instrument) , scope (computer science) , scope of practice , medicine , medical education , variety (cybernetics) , clinical decision making , health care , dental education , family medicine , dentistry , political science , geometry , mathematics , artificial intelligence , computer science , programming language , law
This study investigated current trends of Iowa dental practitioners with regard to acquisition and utilization of scientific information resources to support decision making in the clinical practice of dentistry. A survey questionnaire regarding the utilization of various sources of information to support clinical decisions was mailed in September 2009 to all dentists licensed and practicing in the state of Iowa. Dentists appointed full‐time within the University of Iowa College of Dentistry were excluded from this study. Continuing education courses were the most frequently utilized and preferred information source by respondents, followed by print journals and consultation with other health care professionals. Practice patterns according to decade of dental school graduation as well as scope of practice were noted. The results of this study demonstrate that dental practitioners utilize a variety of evidence‐based and non‐evidence‐based information resources to support decisions in clinical practice. The habits of newer graduates vary somewhat from those of earlier graduates; the habits of specialists vary from those of general practitioners.