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. * Incorporates topical published papers in order to rpovide worked examples * Explains the most6 common forms of research used in dentistry * Unlocks basic statistical and epidemiological concepts, along with key terms * Enables the reader to identify the research question, assess aspects of study design, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of papers and understand their clinical relevance * Tables, boxes and figures are used extensively to present core information. Useful templates are also provided, which readers may use/adapt for analysis, including study clubs.
Author(s): Allan Hackshaw, Elizabeth Paul, Elizabeth Davenport
Edition: 1
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 241
Contents......Page 6
Foreword......Page 9
Preface......Page 10
Acknowledgements......Page 13
What is evidence-based dentistry?......Page 14
Why do we need evidence-based dentistry?......Page 15
How to practice evidence-based dentistry......Page 16
What is the aim of the study?......Page 23
How was the study conducted?......Page 24
What are the main results?......Page 25
The implications of conducting a study based on a sample of people......Page 28
How good is the evidence?......Page 32
What does the study contribute to dental practice?......Page 36
What is the aim of the study?......Page 44
How was the study conducted?......Page 45
Normal distribution......Page 48
Interpreting the results from non-symmetric data......Page 53
Comparing two percentages (or proportions)......Page 57
Comparing two means......Page 64
Examining associations......Page 68
5 Assessing the effectiveness of treatments......Page 81
Main design elements of randomised clinical trials......Page 82
A clinical trial based on counting people......Page 84
A clinical trial based on taking measurements on people......Page 102
Appendix I. Guidelines for the appraisal of a clinical trial......Page 112
6 Determining risk factors for and causes of disease......Page 128
Association, causality and confounding......Page 129
Cohort studies......Page 132
An example of a cohort study......Page 134
Case–control studies......Page 144
An example of a case–control study......Page 145
Appendix I. Guidelines for the appraisal of an observational study......Page 154
Appendix II. Calculation of odds, risk, odds ratio and relative risk......Page 156
7 Detecting disease......Page 167
Conditions for a worthwhile screening programme......Page 169
Selecting the sample......Page 185
Sample size......Page 186
More observational studies......Page 190
Bias......Page 192
Confounding......Page 193
More on clinical trials......Page 195
What is the strength of evidence for causality from different study types?......Page 196
Searching for information......Page 199
Conflicts of interests in published research......Page 201
Systematic reviews......Page 202
10 Summary of statistical concepts......Page 218
Suggested answers......Page 222
Further reading......Page 232
Index......Page 235
