Evidence-Based Dentistry and Research – Week 3

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential terms and concepts related to evidence-based dentistry, PICO formulation, study designs and literature searching covered in Week 3.

Evidence-Based Dentistry (EBD)

The integration of best current scientific evidence with clinical expertise and patient values to guide dental care decisions.

Three Components of EBD

1) Best available research evidence 2) Clinical expertise 3) Patient preferences and values.

Clinical Expertise

Practitioner’s accumulated experience, education and clinical skills used in decision-making.

Patient Values/Preferences

Individual client’s concerns, expectations and cultural beliefs considered in care planning.

Best Available Evidence

Current, high-quality research findings relevant to a clinical question.

Information Management Skills

Abilities needed to locate, assess and apply credible literature efficiently.

Levels of Clinical Evidence

A hierarchy ranking study designs from strongest (systematic reviews/meta-analyses) to weakest (expert opinion).

Systematic Review

A structured, comprehensive synthesis of all relevant studies on a topic, using explicit methods to minimize bias.

Meta-Analysis

Statistical technique that combines data from multiple studies to produce a single pooled result.

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Experimental study where participants are randomly assigned to intervention or control groups to test treatment effectiveness.

Cohort Study

Observational study that follows a group over time to compare outcomes between exposed and unexposed subjects.

Case-Control Study

Observational study comparing individuals with a condition (cases) to those without (controls) to identify risk factors.

Case Series / Case Report

Descriptive accounts of one or several patients detailing clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes.

In Vitro Research

Laboratory studies conducted on cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological context.

Animal Research

Pre-clinical experiments performed on animal models to explore disease mechanisms or interventions.

PICO Model

Framework for formulating focused clinical questions: Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome.

Population/Problem (P)

Specific patient group or clinical condition under investigation.

Intervention (I)

Treatment, diagnostic test or preventive measure being considered.

Comparison (C)

Main alternative against which the intervention is evaluated (e.g., another treatment or placebo).

Outcome (O)

Measurable effect, benefit or harm expected from the intervention.

Therapy/Prevention Question

PICO question type that seeks evidence on effectiveness of treatments or preventive strategies.

Diagnosis Question

Question type focused on accuracy or usefulness of diagnostic tests or procedures.

Etiology Question

Question exploring causes or risk factors of diseases or conditions.

Prognosis Question

Question predicting the likely course or outcome of a disease over time.

Formulate Question (EBD Step 1)

Convert a clinical problem into an answerable PICO question to guide literature search.

Collect Data (EBD Step 2)

Search for and gather relevant studies such as systematic reviews and RCTs.

Appraise Evidence (EBD Step 3)

Critically assess validity, reliability and applicability of retrieved research.

Apply Evidence (EBD Step 4)

Integrate appraised evidence with clinical expertise and patient values in practice.

Evaluate Outcome (EBD Step 5)

Assess the effectiveness of the applied intervention and modify care as needed.

PubMed

Free biomedical database from the U.S. National Library of Medicine for locating scholarly articles.

Cochrane Collaboration

International network producing systematic reviews to support evidence-based health care decisions.

Search Filters/Limits

Database tools (e.g., language, publication year, age group) used to refine literature searches and increase relevance.

“Do No Harm” Principle

Ethical obligation requiring clinicians to avoid causing unnecessary harm when providing care.