Adoption of change in endodontic practice after an educational program: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Clinical Endodontics
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Implementing new clinical endodontic routines in public health settings presents unique challenges.
• Educational interventions are crucial for adopting advanced techniques like the nickel-titanium-rotary-technique.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define characteristics of successful implementation of new clinical endodontic routines.
• To understand factors influencing the adoption of advanced endodontic procedures in a public dental health organization.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative Content Analysis of verbatim interview transcripts.
• Thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 15 staff members who successfully adopted new routines.
• Focus on experiences following a theoretical educational intervention and practical training.

Main Results:

• A central theme identified: A multifaceted, flexible process supported by governance and reinforced motivation.
• Key facilitators include a strong organizational foundation, flexibility, simplification of tasks, and perceived improvements in care.
• Contextual and emotional facilitation were crucial for successful integration of new endodontic practices.

Conclusions:

• Successful integration of new endodontic procedures relies on governance support, dedicated personnel, flexibility, and open communication.
• Findings enhance understanding of change acceptance in clinical endodontics within public health.
• Provides evidence for selecting effective educational strategies and structures for dental practice improvement.