Evidence-Based Practice Curriculum in an Undergraduate Oral Health Program: Clinical Application and Impact

Abstract

The explosion of health information accessible to consumers through multimedia has supported the merit and value of evidence-based practice (EBP). Both informed interest from patients and medico-legal considerations of patient care and safety have also contributed to an increased importance of EBP for health practitioners. In light of this, the Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) University of Sydney (Australia) faced challenge and pressure to cope with the high-level skills required by a competent oral health practitioner in the current health care environment. A redesigned EBP curriculum aimed to break through the theoretical ‘boundary’, cultivate and develop students in using scientific evidence to support clinical decision-making. Scenario-based tutorials, clinical application and progressive assessment strategies characterised this curriculum. Objectives: To identify and determine to what extent strategies to enhance teaching, student application of EBP; and to evaluate EBP impact on oral health graduates’ clinical practice. Methods: Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires, and followed by qualitative inquiry using focus groups and individual interviews to capture students’ experience in EBP from the curriculum and its impact on the profession. Qualitative responses were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Triangulation was used to cross-validate and confirm findings to provide a broader understanding of the subject. Results: Over 90% of students reported a positive EBP experience though only over 50% students found searching evidence and accessing full text an achievable task. Graduates reported they felt confident and were empowered by EBP in making clinical decisions. Challenges included limited online resources for literature search, lack of evidence in some aspects of dentistry, and gaining full-text access. Conclusion: The redesigned EBP curriculum has made an overall positive impact on oral health graduates’ clinical practice. This study can serve as a pathfinder to introduce and implement EBP in other health care educational institutions and support translational science by bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, which can potentially improve patient outcomes from the patient-oriented level to the population-based level.