Evidence based dentistry etc Flashcards
What is evidence-based medicine
Using the best evidence to make decisions about diagnoses and treatment. Involves systemic location, appraisal and implementation of existing evidence.
Why do we need evidence-based dentistry
- Duty to the patient e.g. ethically and professionally have to do what’s best.
- Patient’s expectations are changing e.g. want compensation, better quality, etc.
- Greater need for healthcare and new interventions e.g. due to aging pop.
- New evidence/data about existing stuff
EBD benefits
- Information is clearer for the patient so expectations are realistic.
- Less damage caused by the dentist
- Limited resources used more efficiently.
- Clinical benefits/effectiveness of treatment assessed.
- Kept up to date.
The steps to carrying out evidence-based healthcare
- Finding a good question
- Collecting evidence
- Appraising the evidence
- Implementing the evidence
Defining the question for EBD
Needs to be specific to a healthcare problem or treatment. Should be searchable, realistic and important.
Collecting evidence for EBD/levels of evidence
Good quality evidence e.g. from Cochrane library, systemic research, online databases.
Level 1 = strong from 1+ SR
level 2 = strong from 1+ RCT
Level 3 = good non-randomised trials
Level 4 = non-experimental, from 2+ research groups
Level 5 = expert opinion
Appraising the evidence in EBD
Assessing the quality of the evidence e.g. the research method, conduct, and design. Using systemic review to appraise the evidence and levels of evidence.
RCT = group all start at baseline and then either given treatment or not, followed over a period of time and groups compared at the end.
Synthesizing the results e.g. into a Forrest plot, meta-analysis, statistical summary of results.
Implementing the evidence in EBD
Advice, payment or treatment shouldn’t be carried out without evidence.
Evidence can be used on one patient or one tooth,
Evidence can be turned into a clinical guideline/pathway
Evidence can be used to influence payment structure
Hypothesis testing research design
Hypothesis already present. Uses SR or RCT/ experimental or non-experimental testing etc. to collect data (quantitative)
Hypothesis synthesizing research design
Qualitative - looking at how people think and behave e.g. using surveys and focus groups.
Quantitative:
- Case series e.g. looking at a group with a disease and seeing if there are any similarities.
- Surveys to see if there is a pattern between data.
Still, need to test the hypothesis.
Types of research/studies, in order of strongest evidence to weakest.
- Meta-analysis
- Systemic review
- RCT
- Cohort study
- Case-control study
- Case series/case reports
- Animal/lab studies
Types of research/studies, in order of strongest evidence to weakest.
- Meta-analysis
- Systemic review
- RCT
- Cohort study
- Case-control study
- Case series/case reports
- Animal/lab studies
Meta-analysis
Statistical analysis of all the data and making one conclusion.
Systemic review
Looking at all the RCTs and secondary data and compiling them into one big study e.g. adding up the test group numbers.
Looks at prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation too.
Systemic review benefits
Can find results quickly.
Kept up to date.
Less bias and random error.
Reviewers report better e.g. more structured and documented.
Each stage is peer-reviewed.
Assesses validity, applicability, and implications of results
Randomised control trial
A group all at the same baseline split randomly into 1 receiving treatment and 1 not. Groups followed over a set time and treated the same and then results compared.
Starting group size is bigger than end because people drop out - this needs to be documented so can see if it is due to the study.
Better if blind trial.
Tells us that results are due to intervention only.
Cohort studies
Follow-up.
Group of people with suspected exposure to something or not recalled after a given time to see if there is an outcome or not for both groups.
Groups are not similar at the start and may not be treated the same over the set time.