Introduction

The National Center for Dental Hygiene Research, Department of Dental Hygiene at USC proposes to develop and evaluate a faculty development model for integrating Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) into the curricula of the allied health professions. An evidence-based approach has emerged as a national priority in health care in response to the need to improve the quality of care and to demonstrate the best use of limited resources. The principles of EBDM methodology are based on the abilities to critically appraise and correctly apply current evidence from relevant research to decisions made in practice so that what is known is reflected in what we do. These principles have been determined to be essential for improving the care provided by allied health professionals to close the gap between knowledge and practice. However, the principles primarily have been applied to experimental research in medicine using a double-blind randomized clinical trial as the gold standard, the study design thought to provide the best evidence.

Currently, EBDM principles as they apply to qualitative studies have not been evaluated, yet these research study designs are appropriate for investigating many areas of care, including health promotion, disease prevention and community-based care. The purpose of this project is to systematically evaluate principles of EBDM and develop a model unique to the allied health professions that faculty can use to integrate Evidence-Based Decision Making into their courses. The emphasis in this project will be on closing the gap between knowledge and practice related to geriatric care.

Objectives

Specific objectives of this proposal are to: 1) reach consensus on the criteria for evaluating the validity and scoring the relevance of qualitative research studies so that the criteria are appropriate for the full range of studies conducted within the allied health disciplines, 2) prepare curriculum materials for training allied health faculty to teach and integrate the principles of EBDM methodology, 3) train 180 allied health faculty to effectively teach and integrate the principles of EBDM through a Summer Institute program, 4) provide ongoing support and feedback to faculty through electronic communications to discuss curriculum revisions, problem-based teaching strategies, and related issues, and 5) disseminate materials derived from the project through journal publications, professional presentations and electronically for use by other health professions.

For further information contact:
Dr. Jane L. Forrest, Director
National Center for Dental Hygiene Research
USC School of Dentistry
925 West 34th Street, DEN 4339
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641
Tel: 213.740.8669
Fax: 213.740.7557
Email: jforrest@hsc.usc.edu