Evidence-Based Dentistry An Introduction

by Hackshaw, Allan; Paul, Elizabeth; Davenport, Elizabeth

• ISBN13: 9781405124966
• ISBN10: 1405124962
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-09-29
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This introduction to Evidence-Based Dentistry provides a much-needed orientation in the subject for students and professionals alike. It is a ground-level book for those seeking to understand evidence-based dentistry and its significance for clinical practice. The book is anchored in the dental literature: the majority of the chapters offer guidance on interpreting a full published paper; where both the subject of the paper and the study design is of relevance to the field of dentistry. Each chapter is organised in a similar way, providing a structured approach to reading and understanding research articles or commercial product information. In this respect, Evidence-Based Dentistry is designed as an introduction to understanding published research and its implications for the dental surgery; rather than as a guide on undertaking research.

Author Biography

Allan Hackshaw established and led the course on evidence-based dentistry at Barts & the London School of Dentistry and is now deputy-director of the cancer trials centre at University College London.

Elizabeth Paul is a Lecturer at the UCL cancer trials centre.

Elizabeth Davenport is Professor of Dental Education, Barts & the London School of Dentistry.

Table of Contents

Foreword	viii
Preface	ix
Acknowledgements	xii
Evidence-based dentistry: what it is and how to practice it	1	(9)
What is evidence-based dentistry?	1	(1)
Why do we need evidence-based dentistry?	2	(1)
How to practice evidence-based dentistry	3	(7)
Counting people: understanding percentages and proportions	10	(21)
What is the aim of the study?	10	(1)
How was the study conducted?	11	(1)
What are the main results?	12	(3)
The implications of conducting a study based on a sample of people	15	(4)
How good is the evidence?	19	(4)
What does the study contribute to dental practice?	23	(8)
Taking measurements on people	31	(13)
What is the aim of the study?	31	(1)
How was the study conducted?	32	(3)
What are the main results?	35	(1)
Normal distribution	35	(5)
Interpreting the results from non-symmetric data	40	(4)
Comparing groups of people and examining associations	44	(24)
Comparing two percentages (or proportions)	44	(7)
Comparing two means	51	(4)
Examining associations	55	(13)
Assessing the effectiveness of treatments	68	(47)
Main design elements of randomised clinical trials	69	(2)
A clinical trial based on counting people	71	(18)
A clinical trial based on taking measurements on people	89	(10)
Appendix I. Guidelines for the appraisal of a clinical trial	99	(16)
Determining risk factors for and causes of disease	115	(28)
Association, causality and confounding	116	(3)
Cohort studies	119	(2)
An example of a cohort study	121	(10)
Case-control studies	131	(1)
An example of a case-control study	132	(9)
Appendix I. Guidelines for the appraisal of an observational study	141	(2)
Appendix II. Calculation of odds, risk, odds ratio and relative risk	143	(11)
Detecting disease	154	(18)
Conditions for a worthwhile screening programme	156	(16)
Study design issues	172	(14)
Types of study	172	(1)
Selecting the sample	172	(1)
Sample size	173	(4)
More observational studies	177	(1)
Bias	178	(2)
Confounding	180	(2)
More on clinical trials	182	(1)
What is the strength of evidence for causality from different study types?	183	(3)
Reviewing all the evidence	186	(19)
Searching for information	186	(2)
Conflicts of interests in published research	188	(1)
Systematic reviews	189	(16)
Summary of statistical concepts	205	(4)
Suggested answers	209	(10)
Further reading	219	(3)
Index	222