title: Developing evidence-based dentistry skills: how to interpret randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews.
abstract: Decision-making based on reliable evidence is more likely to lead to effective and efficient treatments. Evidence-based dentistry was developed, similarly to evidence-based medicine, to help clinicians apply current and valid research findings into their own clinical practice. Interpreting and appraising the literature is fundamental and involves the development of evidence-based dentistry (EBD) skills. Systematic reviews (SRs) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered to be evidence of the highest level in evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. Furthermore, the assessment of the report of a RCT, as well as a SR, can lead to an estimation of how the study was designed and conducted.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kiriakou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pandis
authors.forename: Phoebus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Madianos
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Athens, 2 Thivon Str, Athens 115 27, Greece. argy_poly@post.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Argy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polychronopoulou
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D003657:Decision Making; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012196:Review Literature as Topic