Pre-conference workshop executive summary

The use of current best evidence does not replace clinical skills, judgment or experience, but provides another dimension to decision making. The purpose of this workshop was to present an overview of the strategies that can be used to integrate an Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) approach into practice. Participants gained experience in evidence-based methods including how to formulate patient-centered questions to facilitate finding relevant evidence, how to conduct a search using PubMed and then appraise and apply the evidence. The workshop was designed as an introductory session so that those attending the next two days of the 2nd International Conference on Evidence-based Dentistry would have a foundation for participation.

Participants included university faculty, general and specialty dental practitioners, dental insurance company leaders, journal editors, association officers, private consultants and dental industry representatives. Reasons for attending the course included having responsibility for teaching others about evidence-based practice, improving their own knowledge and how to make changes, understanding how evidence-based care concepts can best be incorporated into benefit designs, learning how evidence-based criteria can be used for reviewing journal articles, and learning how to make better patient care decisions.

The workshop began with an Introduction to Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) and formulating good clinical questions including methodology, skills, and levels of evidence. The PICO (problem, intervention, comparison and outcome) methodology for formulating questions was use to further illustrate how to conduct a structured search. After completing a worksheet of PICO questions to identify missing components and increase their aptitude for writing well-built questions, participants were taken through a PubMed search.

Participants also gained experience in reviewing abstracts, and distinguishing evidence-based publications from other types of literature. In addition, a discussion of clinical vs. statistical significance was presented. The workshop concluded with suggestions for implementing EBDM into practice and identifying online resources for support.