title: Is further intervention required to translate caries prevention and management recommendations into practice?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In April 2010, the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) published guidance on the Prevention and management of dental caries in children. The aims of this study were to determine if further intervention is required to translate the SDCEP guidance recommendations into practice and to identify salient beliefs associated with recommended practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two postal surveys circulated to two independent random samples of dentists working in general dental practices in Scotland, before and after the publication of the guidance. The questionnaire items assessed current practice and beliefs relating to the prevention and management of dental caries in children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates of 40% (n = 87) and 45% (n = 131) were achieved. The results highlight a gap between current practice and recommended practice. The majority of dentists do not 'always' perform recommended behaviours and many are following treatment strategies specifically not recommended in the guidance. More positive attitude, greater capability and motivation were significantly associated with performing more guidance recommended risk assessment and prevention behaviours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the need for further intervention to translate the SDCEP guidance recommendations into practice and give initial insight into the salient beliefs that may serve as targets for future interventions.
authors.affiliation: Dental Health Services Research Unit (DHSRU), University of Dundee/NHS Education for Scotland (NES), Frankland Building, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elouafkaoui
authors.affiliation: DHSRU, University of Dundee, Frankland Building, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.affiliation: DHSRU, University of Dundee; Director, Effective Dental Practice Programme, NES, Frankland Building, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clarkson
authors.affiliation: NES, Frankland Building, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stirling
authors.affiliation: NES, Frankland Building, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: DHSRU, University of Dundee/NES; Dundee Dental Education Centre, Frankland Building, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cassie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult