Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior toward Evidence-based Dentistry among Dental Professionals in Jodhpur Rajasthan, India.

INTRODUCTION: Rendering quality care to the patient, dentists needs to update their skills and knowledge with latest diagnostics and treatment modalities. Evidence-based dentistry can provide best-known treatments.

AIM: To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral healthcare professionals toward evidence-based dentistry among dental professionals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of 3 months from April 2017 to June 2017 in Jodhpur city, Rajasthan, India. The data were collected by using closed-ended questionnaires. A total of 240 study subjects participated in the survey, which include dental practitioners and dentists attached to the two private dental colleges in the Jodhpur. Chi-square test was used to determine significant difference among the three groups.

RESULTS: Statistically significant difference among the three groups (academicians, practitioners, and academicians into dental practice) was found with regard to awareness of dentists about extracting journals, review publications, and databases relevant in carrying out evidence-based practice (EBP); 72.4% of academician felt lack of personal time was one of the major perceived barriers and about 50.7% of academician believe that learning skills of evidence-based dentistry helps them to utilize evidence-based dentistry in daily practice.

CONCLUSION: Majority of the oral health practitioners were not aware about the concept of evidence-based dentistry. The regulatory body of dental sciences in India should make some necessary changes in the dental curriculum to include the concept of evidence-based dentistry in detail.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: To improve the clinical expertise of the dental professional, to aid dental professional to reach best decision regarding dental treatment of the patient, to improve patient safety, and to improve the success rate of dental treatments, evidence-based dentistry should be the integral part of everyday dental practice.