Dentists’ attitudes and practices toward evidence-based dentistry: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction and aims:Considering that attitudes toward evidence-based dentistry (EBD) may predict implementation behaviors, the objective of this systematic review was to synthesize and evaluate the existing evidence related to dentists’ attitudes and practices toward EBD.Methods:We included primary studies that collected information from interviews, questionnaires, or conversation sessions with dentists. The following sources were searched: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, in addition to gray literature. The included studies were appraised according to the assessment tools recommended by JBI for qualitative and quantitative observational studies. Data were collected in standardized tables and descriptively synthesized.Results:The selection process resulted in 36 included studies. Dentists share positive opinions about EBD and predominantly report willingness to learn or adopt these practices. Despite high methodological risks and significant heterogeneity, the results collected in this review indicated that scientific journals, clinical practice guidelines, and trusted colleagues are generally perceived as influential and useful by dentists, who highly consulted these information sources.Conclusion:Despite supportive attitudes toward EBD, very low certainty exists about actual EBD-related practices.