Treatment Plan for Integrating Evidence-Based Decision Making into Dental Education

The aims of this paper are to present the findings from the scientific literature that discuss strategies that can contribute to a “best practices” treatment plan model for effectively integrating Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) into curricula. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and HealthSTAR databases were searched, as was the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Studies and articles, ranging from systematic reviews to articles proposing models and recommendations for how to implement EBDM into curricula and faculty development were reviewed. Several common themes emerged and form the basis for a treatment plan model.

The first step in developing any treatment plan is a thorough assessment of the current situation or problem. Recognizing that there are multiple phases to the assessment of an educational system, the focus of this paper will be to understand which teaching and learning strategies are most effective. These, in turn, will inform faculty of needed curricular changes and skill development training, requisites in order for them to prepare students to be successful in providing patient care using the best available evidence. Elements of a suggested treatment plan will be presented with the caveat that each dental school will need to develop an implementation plan based on an assessment of its own environment and needs.