Análise do acesso à informação científica por cirurgiões-dentistas do Brasil

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the informational behavior of Brazilian dentists in order to identify the best way to provide scientific information to the clinical practice. A survey questionnaire regarding several aspects such as demographic aspects, work roles, informational behavior, informational sources, among others, was sent by email to the oral health professionals operating in Brazil by the Regional Council of Dentistry to which they are associated. Responses were received from 795 currently practicing dentists from several states of Brazil. Most of the responders were women (56.5%), active in the Southeast region (49.6%), which worked mostly in towns with population above 300 thousand inhabitants (52.6%). Most professionals have been graduated for more than 15 years (36.9%). Over 77% of them are postgraduated and work mainly in the private sector. Only 13.2% are currently involved with teaching. Almost all respondents (99.5%) consider important to attend continuing education courses, however only 36.3% are currently pursuing graduate studies, not for the first time for 57.8% of them. The respondents who informed they had the habit of reading scientific journals showed a preference for articles such as case reports, clinical research, and literature reviews. The habit of reading scientific journals was associated with acting professionally in dental education, having a Stricto sensu academic title or currently attending graduate school. Attending graduation courses or teaching was associated with a higher frequency of professional update. The clinical decision-making based on scientific evidence was associated with professionals who work in dental education, are graduate students, or finished pregrad school between 6 and 15 years ago. The type of service that the professional acts as well as the time after graduation influences the professional updating. Teaching or having any Stricto sensu title seems to lead the professional to look for more information in scientific journals. In addition, this study suggests that the journals read by most of dentists should be used as a source of communication between academia and clinicians.