Understanding the impact of an evidence-based practice curriculum on oral health graduates

Introduction: The explosion of health information accessible to consumers through multimedia has supported the merit and value of evidence-based practice (EBP). Both informed interest from patients and medico-legal considerations of patient care and safety have also contributed to the increased importance of EBP for health practitioners. An EBP curriculum was implemented as part of the Bachelor of Oral Health program at the University of Sydney. The evaluation of student perspectives was previously completed by using questionnaires and focus group interviews. The objectives of this study were to further explore and analyse the potential impact of the EBP curriculum on oral health graduates' clinical practice. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted to allow for elaboration and clarification to assess oral health graduates' perception of EBP. Graduates (n = 12) from both the private and public sectors were invited to participate. Qualitative responses were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Triangulation was used to cross-validate and confirm the findings of previous quantitative data and focus group responses to provide a broader understanding of the subject. Results: Graduates reported that EBP increased their confidence and empowered them to make clinical decisions. Challenges included limited online resources for literature search, lack of evidence in some aspects of dentistry and difficulty gaining full-text access. Conclusions: The triangulation approach has enhanced the analysis and interpretation of the impact of the EBP curriculum on oral health graduates' clinical practice. This study has shed light on the possibility of introducing and implementing EBP in other healthcare educational institutions and supports translational science by bridging the gap between research and clinical practice.