Confidence of Dentists in Antibiotic Use
Author Information
Author(s): Eva Ellervall, Berndt Brehmer, Kerstin Knutsson
Primary Institution: Malmö University
Hypothesis
Decisions are made with a high level of personal uncertainty and therefore GDPs will present low confidence in their decisions.
Conclusion
The GDPs presented high confidence in their decisions, and the majority did not show justified variations in confidence according to the clarity of recommendations.
Supporting Evidence
- The overall mean confidence assessment was 79 mm on a visual analogue scale.
- For 46% of GDPs, the medical condition significantly explained the variation in confidence.
- Only 15% of GDPs showed justified variations in confidence based on the clarity of recommendations.
Takeaway
Dentists feel very sure about their decisions on giving antibiotics, even when the rules are confusing.
Methodology
Postal questionnaires and telephone interviews were used to assess GDPs' confidence in their decisions regarding antibiotic prophylaxis.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported confidence and the use of simulated cases.
Limitations
The study had a low response rate and relied on hypothetical cases rather than real patient interactions.
Participant Demographics
57% male and 43% female, mean age 48 years, mean professional experience 20 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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