Evidence Based Practice will contain research findings relevant to dental hygiene practice to assist providers in keeping current and to help bridge the gap between knowledge and practice. Information on how to find relevant evidence, evaluate its validity and apply the findings to practice will be provided. Also, links to evidence-based websites throughout the world are provided for you to explore.

• What is Evidence Based Practice?
• What is Evidence-Based Decision-Making?
• Evidence Supporting Practice
• Gaps Between Knowledge and Practice
• Links to Evidence Based Sites
• Evidence Based Courses/Tutorials
• Evidence Based Publications
• Meetings and Conferences
• References

An evidence-based approach has emerged as a national priority in health care in response to the need to improve the quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of treatment protocols and to demonstrate the best use of limited resources.^2,3 The use of current best evidence does not replace clinical skills, judgment, or experience, but provides another dimension to the decision-making process that also must consider clinical circumstances and patient preferences.^4,5 Current best evidence is important because evidence keeps changing as new research is conducted. The type of evidence that should be integrated into practice will come from sound studies related to questions about the cause, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and prognosis of disease as well as questions about the quality and economics of care.⁵

What is Evidence-Based Decision-Making?

Scientific evidence is considered when it is appropriate and in the context of an individual patient's circumstances. It is an aid to the clinical decision-making process that can improve opportunities for achieving successful outcomes. This decision making process is referred to as Evidence-based Decision-Making (EBDM). It is not unique to medicine or any specific health discipline, but it represents a concise way of referring to the application of evidence to the clinical decision-making process.

Evidence Supporting Practice

This section will include research and polices supporting preventive and therapeutic procedures most often performed by dental hygienists.

Gaps Between Knowledge and Practice

There is increasing evidence that shows high variability in traditional practice. Dental hygiene is no exception. In recent national studies on dental hygienists knowledge, opinions and practices related to caries prevention⁶ and oral cancer prevention and early detection⁷ inconsistencies among dental hygienists' knowledge and practice were identified. In both studies, results indicated that an improved understanding of etiology and the scientific evidence of appropriate preventive procedures would allow dental hygienists to better prevent and manage these diseases.

Links to Evidence Based Sites

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) formerly the Agency for Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)

Evidence-Based News (EBNet) An Online Resource for Evidence-Based Decision Making

Centres for Health Evidence

Health Evidence Bulletin-Wales

Netting the Evidence, A ScHARR Introduction to Evidence Based Practice on the Internet

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)

Centre for Evidence-Based Dentistry, Institute of Health Sciences, Oxford, England

Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine

The Cochrane Collaboration

Program in Evidence Based Care: McMaster University

The Cochrane Library

Evidence Based Courses/Tutorials

Medical Informatics Instruction: Thomas Jefferson University tutorial
The Internet, MEDLINE Basics, and Evidence Based Medicine

Evidence Based Medicine Web Tutorial
University of Southern California Health Science Center. Includes links to many other online sites.

Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine
Duke and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Evidence Based Clinical Practice Tutorial
University of Rochester

Evidence Based Publications

Evidence-based Dentistry

Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice
New Online Peer-reviewed Journal supported by Procter & Gamble

Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice

British Medical Journal
Online journal

Evidence-Based Medicine and American College of Physicians Journal Club

Evidence-Based Nursing Journal

Evidence-Based Practice: Patient Oriented Evidence that Matters (POEMS)
InfoPoems

Health Evidence Bulletin-Wales
Includes evidence related to eight oral health conditions.

Evidence-based Healthcare - How to Make Health Policy and Management Decisions by JA Muir Gray.
Book description: ISBN 0-443-05721-4
Churchill Livingstone, A Division of Harcourt Brace and Company Limited, 1997
Wisepress mail order book service, general@wisepress.co.uk
Tel +44 (0) 181 715 1812
Fax +44 (0) 181 715 1722

Getting Research Findings into Practice
Andrew Haines and Anna Donald
BMJ Publishing Group (1998)
ISBN 0-7279-1257-7

References

1. Hersh W (1996, July-August). Evidence-based medicine and the Internet. ACP Online.

2. Eisenberg J (1997, October 28). Testimony on Health Care Quality Before the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, MD

3. IOM (1995). Dental Education at the Crossroads, Challenges and Change. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

4. Haynes RB (1993). Some problems in applying evidence in clinical practice. Ann NY Acad Sci, 703:210-224.

5. Sackett DL, Richardson WS, Rosenberg W, Haynes RB (1997). Evidence-based medicine: How to practice and teach EBM. New York: Churchill Livingston.

6. Forrest JL, Horowitz AM, Shmueley Y (1998) . Dental hygienists' caries prevention knowledge and practices. J Dent Res, 77:123.

7. Forrest JL, Horowitz AM, Shmueley Y (1997). Dental hygienists' knowledge and practices related to oral cancer prevention and early detection. J Dent Res, 77:826.