Comparison of Self-Reported Evidence-Practice Gap Improvement Strategies Among Japanese and Brazilian Dentists

The study aimed to explore how dentists in different countries prioritize strategies to address the evidence-practice gap (EPG). The objectives were to (1) evaluate and compare the priority of strategies to improve the evidence-practice gap (EPG) among Japanese and Brazilian dentists, and (2) analyze the association between the self-reported EPG and improvement strategies.

A cross-sectional study with two rounds of web-based questionnaires was administered to 136 dentists in Japan and 110 in Brazil. The self-reported EPG was assessed using three items related to minimal intervention dentistry (MID) via a mixed-methods approach with qualitative and quantitative assessments. Participants quantitatively prioritized EPG improvement strategies based on items derived from a qualitative content analysis. Logistic regression examined the association between the self-reported EPG and these stated improvement strategies.

Seven EPG improvement strategies were identified from the qualitative content analysis. The highest priority selected by dentists in Japan was 'Review the insurance system and reimbursement to enable the practice of evidence-based dentistry' (65%). In Brazil, the highest priority was 'Encourage dental research that is useful to clinical practice and disseminate its findings' (74%). The second-highest priority in both countries was 'Enhance continuing education programs to enable dentists to practice evidence-based dentistry' (49% in Japan and 65% in Brazil). Logistic regression showed that in Japan, 'Review the insurance system and reimbursement to enable the practice of evidence-based dentistry' and in Brazil, 'Develop and disseminate easy-to-understand clinical practice guidelines' were significantly associated with the self-reported EPG among these same respondents (p < 0.05).

This mixed-methods study identified seven strategies to improve the EPG in Japan and Brazil. Improving the insurance system and reimbursement in Japan, and developing and disseminating clear clinical practice guidelines in Brazil, may effectively bridge the EPG. Enhancing continuing education was the second-highest priority in both countries.