Research on the information-seeking behaviors of dental practitioners is scarce. Knowledge of dentists' informationseeking behaviors should advance the translational gap between clinical dental research and dental practice. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine the self-reported information-seeking behaviors of dentists in three dental practice-based research networks (PBRNs). A total of 950 dentists (65 percent response rate) completed the survey. Dental journals and continuing dental education (CDE) sources used and their inluence on practice guidance were assessed. PBRN participation level and years since dental degree were measured. Full-participant dentists reported reading the Journal of the American Dental Association and General Dentistry more frequently than did their reference counterparts. Printed journals were preferred by most dentists. A lower proportion of full participants obtained their CDE credits at dental meetings compared to partial participants. Experienced dentists read other dental information sources more frequently than did less experienced dentists. Practitioners involved in a PBRN differed in their approaches to accessing information sources. Peer-reviewed sources were more frequently used by full participants and dentists with ifteen years of experience or more. Dental PBRNs potentially play a signiicant role in the dissemination of evidence-based information. This study found that speciic educational sources might increase and disseminate knowledge among dentists. T he term "information-seeking" is defined as the process of inquiry in which people purposefully engage to change their state of knowledge. 1,2 Previous research across numerous health disciplines has studied the information-seeking behaviors of a broad range of health providers. [3][4][5] The information-seeking sources available to and in use by health professionals, including dentistry, have diversiied over the past years. Online databases (e.g., PubMed), continuing dental education (CDE), communication with colleagues, professional organizations, study clubs, and peer-reviewed journals have been reported as the most common evidence sources utilized by health professionals. 6-9 A study by Bennett et al. found that family physicians were more likely than specialists to search the Internet
sERVICE TO THE FACULTY , undeniably a high priority of the academic research library, has traditionally been seen as closely related to the size of the collection. The assumption has been that faculty needs are satisfied by a large collection, by special borrowing privileges, and by the provision of carrels or studies in the library. Historically, academic librarians have believed that faculty members were expert bibliographers who knew how to use . the card catalog and were at home in the book stacks. 1 Reference services, when given, have often been designed to help the faculty members find material for themselves.Although through the years authors like Rothstein have argued for the provision of actual information to the scholarly community, 2 academic librarians have continued to believe that such service is neither needed nor desired. To the extent that the humanist scholar is seen as the prototype faculty member, the librarians' view of the faculty's need for service is correct. 3 The evidence suggests that the typical social science faculty member is different from this prototype.Nelson's survey revealed that social scientists were less aware of library services and more critical of librarians' performance than
Objectives The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research funded three practice-based research networks (PBRNs), NW-PRECEDENT, PEARL and DPBRN to conduct studies relevant to practicing general dentists. These PBRNs collaborated to develop a questionnaire to assess the impact of network participation on changes in practice patterns. This report presents results from the initial administration of the questionnaire. Methods Questionnaires were administered to network dentists and a non-network reference group. Practice patterns including caries diagnosis and treatment, pulp cap materials, third molar extraction, dentin hypersensitivity treatments and endodontic treatment and restoration were assessed by network, years in practice, and level of network participation.Test-retest reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated. Results 950 practitioners completed the questionnaire. Test-retest reliability was good-excellent (kappa>0.4) for most questions. Significant differences in responses by network were not observed. The use of caries risk assessment forms differed by both network participation (p<0.001) and years since dental degree (p=0.026). Recent dental graduates are more likely to recommend third molar removal for preventive reasons (p=0.003). Conclusions Practitioners in the CONDOR research networks are similar to their US colleagues. As a group, however, these practitioners show a more evidence-based approach to their practice. Dental PBRNs have the potential to improve the translation of evidence into daily practice. Designing methods to assess practice change and the associated factors is essential to addressing this important issue.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.