Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Evidence-Based Dentistry Among Final-Year Dental Students: A Multinational Study Across 6 Countries and 8 Universities

INTRODUCTION: Evidence-based dentistry (EBD) refers to the use of the best available evidence in combination with clinical expertise and patient values to guide clinical decision-making. Whilst evidence-based medicine (EBM) is widely adopted in medicine, EBD is much less frequently used in dentistry. Research into dental students' views towards EBD is limited. Understanding the views of this group is essential to increasing adoption of EBD among the dental profession.

AIM: This study assessed final-year undergraduate dentistry students' knowledge, perception, and attitudes towards EBD, and identified barriers to its routine use.

METHODS: A 3-month cross-sectional study was conducted among 276 final-year dental students from eight European universities. Data were collected using an online questionnaire.

RESULTS: Students demonstrated good understanding of the principles of EBD and reported positive attitudes towards EBD, recognising its value in clinical decision-making and professional development. Significant differences in knowledge around EBD were observed between countries. The most frequently reported barrier to the use of EBD was insufficient training (61.6%), followed by a lack of confidence in interpreting research findings (59.4%), and limited access to relevant journals (47.8%).

CONCLUSION: Dental students acknowledge the importance of EBD, but their knowledge and skills in this area are limited. Insufficient training is the primary barrier, pointing to an urgent need for curriculum change. EBD should be integrated into undergraduate dental curricula, emphasising skills in literature search, critical appraisal, and applying evidence to clinical scenarios. Dedicated educational programmes are essential to prepare future dentists for evidence-based care.