An Innovative Evidence-based Decision Making Model

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An Innovative Evidence-based Decision Making
Model Designed for Curricular Change Gary L.
Stafford DMD
Abstract The Marquette University School of
Dentistrys Department of General Dental Sciences
Advisory Council was developed to encourage and
facilitate the use of Evidence-based
methodologies into the decision making process as
it relates to changes within the curriculum. The
strategy was to develop a method which would help
to increase each faculty members involvement in
deciding how and what is taught by enabling them
to make curricular recommendations or pose
clinical questions or concerns directly to the
Department Chair. The Chair then charges one of
nine Task Force Leaders to assemble a small team
to explore the request or question using
Evidence-based dentistry and return to the
Advisory Council with a recommendation. The
Advisory Council then votes on the recommendation
and if passed, the new intervention, material,
technique or protocol is integrated into the
curriculum, both didactically and
clinically. The Advisory Council was structured
so that each of the nine Task Force leaders who
comprise it, represent specific departmental
areas or disciplines. These individual task
force teams are designated as Complete Dentures,
Dental Biomaterials, Fixed Prosthodontics,
Implants, Oral Medicine Radiology, Quality
Control, Removable Partial Dentures, Restorative
and Treatment Planning and represent each of the
main educational responsibilities or functions of
the Department of General Dental Sciences. Once
the Department Chair assigns a task, the Task
Force Leader seeks out diverse faculty member
representation for the four person task force
team. The goal is to have faculty representation
from other departments, departmental part-time
faculty members and even students who then
participate in the investigation. By the use of
this team based strategy, buy-in from the faculty
was improved and they were also either introduced
to Evidence-based practice or their
Evidence-based dentistry skills were enhanced.
This top down approach seems to be a perfect
complement to our bottom up instructional
approach of teaching the students how to conduct
and practice Evidence-based research beginning in
their D1 year. Incorporating a think tank of
key departmental faculty members to investigate
questions or concerns posed by the students,
administration or other faculty members by using
Evidence-based methodologies has proven to be a
successful management tool, has been very well
received and has led to numerous positive changes
in how we treat our patients and educate our
students. The poster includes examples of
specific issues which were investigated along
with the subsequent Task Force recommendations
that led to changes within the curriculum.
Purpose The aim of this project is to illustrate
how an organization, department or program can
institute a relatively simple structural design
which will help to create consensus for and
increase faculty acceptance of departmental
decisions. This is achieved by developing a
working group of individuals whose use of
Evidence-based decision making techniques allow
for them to effectively choose the most
appropriate interventions, materials and methods
which are then used in both didactic and clinical
instruction.
GDS Chair
F/T or P/T Idea
Task Force
General Dental Sciences Advisory Council
Restorative Biomaterials Fixed Prosthodontics Remo
vable Partial Dentures Complete Dentures
Implants Treatment Planning Quality Control Oral
Medicine Radiology
Didactic Curriculum
EBD
Conclusion It was found that by using an
Advisory Council of key departmental faculty in
combination with Evidence-based decision making,
there has been an increase in the quality of
patient care, faculty calibration in how to
conduct Evidence-based research has improved and
there has been a creation of a culture of
inquisitiveness that challenges the notion that
the way things have always been done is also the
right way of doing things.
Clinic Procedures and Protocols
Task Force Recommendation
GDS Chair
Which One?