Learning objectives

  • - Explain publication bias.
  • - Name different digital information sources and amount and levels of evidence.
  • - Prepare search strategies for digital databases based on formulated clinical scenarios.
  • - Manage PubMed searching and the concept of MESH terms and Boolean functions.
  • - Locate best scientific evidence in PubMed & Cochrane Library.

"PhD Student1: “You know, studies with positive results are more likely to be accepted for publication than studies with negative results. Shouldn’t we take that into account when submitting our paper?” PhD Student2: “Waaaw, I didn’t know that. Moreover, my teacher always told me that negative results are also results. We are misleading the readers. And what about fraude?”

What is publication bias?

Dental materials and more specifically implant industry is evolving at high speed. Choosing the right implant component is not easy as so many different designs for specific situations have been launched.

Is there evidence the the concical-shaped implant design is preferred above the traditional butt joint design? What is the impact for the patient? Will the gums around the implant heal in a different way on the long term? How can I formulate the research question correctly?

How can I formulate the research question correctly?
What are different digital information sources and levels of evidence?
How do I need to define my literature search?
Where can I find the best evidence?

Relevant online resources:

Recommended online resources on Publication bias:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publication_bias 

http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.d7762

https://www.dovepress.com/publication-bias-what-is-it-how-do-we-measure-it-how-do-we-avoid-it-peer-reviewed-article-OAJCT#

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/014067369190201Y 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20516298

Recommended online resources on sources of digital information and levels of evidence:

1.www.thecochranelibrary.com

2.Other literature resources:

www.crd.york.ac.uk/crdweb; 

www.jebdp.com

www.nature.com/ebd/

www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/

www.ebm.bmj.com    

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/clinical/  www.cebm.net

http://ebd.ada.org/en/resources/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/finding-systematic-reviews/

www.tripdatabase.com 

www.sumsearch.org 

http://www.ovid.com/site/catalog/databases/index.jsp

www.cebd.org 

http://ebd.ada.org/en/

www.evidence.nhs.uk  

www.essentialevidenceplus.com 

www.clinicalevidence.com 

The Evidence Locator provides resources of evidence-based dentistry information http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18783754

Evidence-based dentistry: Challenges for education and dental research. Information missing from databases and access problems  http://www.jokstad.no/

Recommended online resources on search strategies for digital databases based on formulated clinical scenarios:

1.http://www.cebd.org/practising-ebd/question/    

http://www.cebm.net/asking-focused-questions


Recommended online resources for managing PubMed searching and the concept of MESH terms and Boolean functions:

1.https://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/disted/pubmedtutorial/cover.html   

2.https://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/disted/pubmedtutorial/020_490.html  

3.https://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/disted/pubmedtutorial/020_340.html 

4.http://www.cebd.org/teaching-3/ 

EBD Workshop -Collecting the Evidence

EBD Lecture- EBD a global revolution?

EBD Lecture – Getting evidence into practice


Recommended online resources on locating the best scientific evidence in PubMed & Cochrane Library:

1.In PubMed www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/clinical/  

2.In Cochrane Library http://www.thecochranelibrary.com and http://www.cochranelibrary.com/topic/Dentistry%20%26%20oral%20health/

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE)

The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)

The Cochrane Database of Methodology Reviews

The Cochrane Methodology Register

Health Technology Assessment Database (HTA)

NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED)

Optional texts local/national sites:

Local ebm resources
Self-assessment tools
Info for tutors/teachers