title: Evidence-based practice among a group of Malaysian dental practitioners.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess dentists' knowledge and use of evidence-based practice (EBP), including their attitudes toward and perceptions of barriers that limit the use of EBP. A cross-sectional survey was used with self-administered questionnaires involving dental practitioners in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. One hundred ninety-three replies were returned, for a response rate of 50.3 percent. More than two-thirds (135/193, 69.9 percent) of the respondents had heard of EBP. Out of the 135 respondents who had heard of EBP, a majority agreed it was a decision-making process based on evidence (127/135, 94.2 percent) and involved a series of steps from formulating the research question, locating and assessing the evidence, to applying it if suitable (129/135, 95.6 percent). Out of the 135 respondents who had heard of EBP, a high percentage agreed that EBP improved their knowledge and skills (132/135, 97.8 percent) and treatment quality (132/135, 97.8 percent). For advice, a majority of the 135 respondents frequently consulted friends and colleagues (123/135, 91.1 percent), made referrals (120/135, 88.9 percent), consulted textbooks (112/135, 83.0 percent), and referred to electronic databases (90/135, 66.7 percent). Out of the 135 respondents, many perceived EBP as very important (59/135, 43.7 percent) and important (58/135, 43.0 percent) and were interested to learn further information about EBP (132/135, 97.8 percent). The main reported barriers were lack of time (87/135, 64.4 percent), financial constraints (54/135, 40.0 percent), and lack of knowledge (38/135, 28.1 percent). A majority of the 135 respondents had knowledge of and positive attitudes towards EBP. However, due to barriers, a majority of them preferred colleagues, textbooks, and referrals for advice instead of seeking evidence from electronic databases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. zamros@um.edu.my
authors.forename: Zamros Y M
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yusof
authors.forename: Lee Jin
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Poon Pei
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: San
authors.forename: Anis S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ramli
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003657:Decision Making; D003729:Dental Care; D003815:Dentists; D004497:Education, Dental; D005006:Ethnicity; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D005551:Foreign Professional Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012107:Research Design; D013782:Textbooks as Topic; D013997:Time Factors