Dentists' Understanding of Diagnostic Test Results and Treatment Efficacy.

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Health Education
• Interventions: Other: Dental health information form

• Registration Number: NCT03051295
• Lead Sponsor: Rio de Janeiro State University

Brief Summary

There is little evidence on how best to present diagnostic and treatment effect information to dentists and whether this makes any difference to their understanding of the information given and clinical management. The objective of this study is to assess the influence of different formats for presenting diagnostic test results and treatment efficacy on dentists' understanding and on their reported clinical management. The hypothesis is that presenting diagnostic test and treatment effectiveness results using natural frequencies influences the threshold for treatment and improves interpretation of tests results compared to conditional probabilities and percentage differences. A group of dentists recruited from postgraduate courses were randomized to two of four arms, being two arms of a hypothetical realistic diagnostic scenario (a) and two arms of a hypothetical realistic treatment scenario (b): a1) diagnostic test results presented in conditional probabilities; a2) diagnostic test results presented in natural frequencies; b1) treatment efficacy presented in percentages; b2) treatment efficacy presented in natural frequencies. The main outcome measures were the correct answer as to whether disease was actually present (post-test probability) and the correct answer as the number of patients that would benefit from the treatment (efficacy). Secondary outcome measures included the decision whether to treat or not treat the hypothetical patient.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-06-08
• Primary Completion: 2016-12-13
• Study Completion: 2016-12-13
• Status Verified: 2017-02
• Study First Submitted: 2017-02-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-02-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-02-10
• Study First Posted: 2017-02-13
• Last Update Posted: 2017-02-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 101

Inclusion Criteria

• Graduated dentist undergoing a postgraduate course in a public university in Rio de Janeiro.

Exclusion Criteria

• None.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Diagnostic percentages.	Dental health information form	Dentist receives diagnostic test results presented in conditional probabilities.
Diagnostic frequencies	Dental health information form	Dentist receives diagnostic test results presented in natural frequencies.
Treatment percentages.	Dental health information form	Dentist receives treatment efficacy presented in percentages.
Treatment frequencies.	Dental health information form	Dentist receives treatment efficacy presented in natural frequencies.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The probability that a patient will have a dental cavity as assessed by a dentist.	Up to 20 minutes	The assessement by the dentist was based on a questionnarie containing a clinical hypothetical situation and the result of a bite-wing radiographic exam.
The number of patients that will benefit from systemic antibiotics adjunct to periodontal treatment as assessed by a dentist.	Up to 20 minutes	The assessement by the dentist was based on a questionnarie containing a clinical hypothetical situation and the information about the usual efficacy of systemic antibiotics adjunct to periodontal treatment.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The number of dentists that would recommend the use of systemic antibiotics adjunct to periodontal treatment in the clinical management of a patient with periodontal disease.	Up to 20 minutes	The recommendation by the dentist was based on a questionnarie containing a clinical hypothetical situation and the information about the usual efficacy of systemic antibiotics adjunct to periodontal treatment.