Original article
Attitudes, awareness, and barriers toward evidence-based practice in orthodontics

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajodo.2010.05.023Get rights and content

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes, awareness, and barriers toward evidence-based practice.

Methods

A survey consisting of 35 questions pertaining to the use of scientific evidence in orthodontics was sent to 4771 members of the American Association of Orthodontists in the United States. Each respondent’s age, attainment of a master’s degree, and whether he or she was currently involved with teaching were ascertained. To minimize bias, the survey questions were phrased as an examination of the use of scientific literature in orthodontics.

Results

A total of 1517 surveys were received (response rate, 32%). Most respondents had positive attitudes toward, but a poor understanding of, evidence-based practice. The major barrier identified was ambiguous and conflicting research. Younger orthodontists were more aware, had a greater understanding, and perceived more barriers than did older orthodontists. Orthodontists involved in teaching were more aware, had a greater understanding, and reported fewer barriers than those not involved with teaching. Those with master’s degrees had a greater understanding of evidence-based practice than those without degrees.

Conclusions

Educational initiatives are needed to increase the understanding and use of evidence-based practice in orthodontics.

Section snippets

Material and methods

A survey was designed to examine the perceptions of orthodontists toward evidence-based practice in orthodontics. To minimize bias among participants, the term evidence-based practice was not used in the survey. Instead, the questions were phrased as inquiries regarding the use of scientific literature in orthodontics. Each participant was asked to respond to a set of demographic questions, followed by a set of questions pertaining to scientific literature in clinical orthodontics. Most survey

Results

The survey was sent to 8455 orthodontists, it was opened by 4771, and 1517 participated in the study. The response rate was 32%. The modal age group of the sample was 41 to 60 years, there were 79% men and 21% women, and the modal number of years in practice group was 16 to 20 years (Table I). Twenty-eight percent of the respondents were involved in teaching; 59% of the respondents had master’s degrees.

Discussion

The response rate in this study was 32%; this is lower than evidence-based surveys conducted in other fields.9, 10, 15, 16, 17 The studies in medicine attributed their high response rates to short, concise surveys, anonymity, the support of professional leaders, and professional membership.9, 15, 17 Because this was the first survey of its kind in orthodontics, it was designed to be comprehensive and therefore longer. This study also involved a much larger overall number of respondents (n =

Conclusions

Orthodontists expressed awareness and positive attitudes toward evidence-based practice. However, awareness of the Cochrane database was low, and understanding of evidence-based practice terminology was poor. Most respondents currently seek advice from colleagues when faced with clinical uncertainties, and expert advice was the most frequently selected reason for changing a practice philosophy. Conflicting and ambiguous literature, lack of clinical guidelines, and practical demands of work were

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    The authors report no commercial, proprietary, or financial interest in the products or companies described in this article.

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