A comparison of the impact of information from a clinician and research-based information on patient treatment choice in dentistry.
OBJECTIVE
There is an imperative that clinicians should employ an evidence-based approach to both clinical care and treatment, and involve patients in the decision-making process. In Britain, public policy emphasizes the importance of patient involvement, participation and partnership in health care, however little is known of the effect of evidence-based information on this. This study compares treatment decisions made by dental patients on the basis of two sources of evidence: clinician and research.


METHODS
Vignette method with the two sources of evidence as experimental variables. The study population was a convenience sample of dental patients recruited from a clinic waiting area at a Dental Hospital (n=100). Each participant read a vignette describing a visit to the dentist for treatment of severe toothache in a back tooth. The nature and purpose of the visit was identical in each vignette. The participants indicated their decision about possible treatment, based on the information they had been given in the vignette and rated their confidence in the decision on a three point Likert scale. Additionally participants' were asked to rate their own oral health.


RESULTS
Research evidence influences the confidence patients have in their in decision especially when it supports clinical judgement and where individuals value their oral health. Research evidence does not replace the confidence that patients have in the dentist's clinical judgement.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental patients' willingness to engage in treatment is influenced by the dentist's clinical recommendation and the importance of oral health to the patient.
Gilmore
Diane
D
Department of Oral Health Services Research & Dental Public Health, King's College London Dental Institute, King's College London, Caldecot Road, London SE5 9RW, United Kingdom. diane.gilmore@kcl.ac.uk
Sturmey
Peter
P
Newton
J Timothy
JT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D003729:Dental Care; D018865:Dental Research; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010358:Patient Participation; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors