A longitudinal study of changes in new dental graduates’ engagement with evidence-based practice during their transition to professional practice

Al-yaseen, Waraf, Nanjappa, Sucharita, Jindal-Snape, Divya and Innes, Nicola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9984-0012 2022. A longitudinal study of changes in new dental graduates’ engagement with evidence-based practice during their transition to professional practice. British Dental Journal 10.1038/s41415-022-3931-5

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Abstract

Introduction Clinicians' use, interpretation and application of evidence in everyday practice is fundamental to their delivery of appropriate, contemporary, high-quality dentistry. Little is known about whether new dental graduates' (NDGs') perspectives and use of evidence-based practice (EBP) change when they enter professional practice. Aim To explore changes in NDGs' perception of EBP for: self-efficacy; knowledge of EBP principles; attitudes; confidence in appraisal skills; and frequency of accessing evidence. Methods Two pre-validated instruments: knowledge, attitude, confidence and accessing EBP resources, EBP confidence scale, and clinical scenarios. NDGs from one dental school completed the questionnaire upon graduation (R1) and six to nine months into vocational dental training (R2). Results Response rates of R1 were 34 (52%) and R2, 21 (62% of R1, 32% overall). Between R1 and R2, knowledge (median [25th-75th percentiles]: R1 = 4 [2.5-4]; R2 = 3 [2.8-3], p = 0.07), self-efficacy (R1 = 645 [587-782]; R2 = 630 [550-690], p = 0.8) and scores related to knowledge of gold standards were comparable. However, attitude (R1 = 38 [34-39], R2 = 27 [25-30]), confidence in appraisal skills (R1 = 16 [14-20], R2 = 11[8-16]) and frequency of accessing evidence (R1 = 26 [22-28]; R2 = 18 [16-19]) all showed statistically significant reductions. Conclusion After six months in professional practice, NDGs showed statistically significant reductions in the value they place on EBP, their EBP-related skills and their use of reliable evidence sources. There were no differences in their 'self-efficacy' knowledge of EBP principles.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Dentistry
Additional Information:	This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Publisher:	British Dental Association
ISSN:	1476-5373
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	18 February 2022
Date of Acceptance:	6 April 2021
Last Modified:	21 Feb 2024 02:13
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/147673

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