Summary
This Q-methodology study, published in PLoS ONE in 2019, examined the perspectives of general dental practitioners in the United Kingdom regarding preventive, patient-centred, and evidence-based oral healthcare. Through structured viewpoint elicitation and factor analysis, the authors identified distinct clusters of professional opinion on how dentists approach preventive care and implementation of evidence-based practice. The findings as suggested by the methodology illuminate variation in practitioner attitudes toward preventive dentistry, which may inform policy and training efforts in general dental practice.
UK applicability
The study was conducted with UK general dental practitioners and directly reflects the perspectives and practice contexts of GDPs working within the UK healthcare system. The findings are directly applicable to UK oral health policy, dental education, and professional guidance on evidence-based preventive practice.
Key measures
Practitioner viewpoint factors derived from Q-sort rankings of preventive and evidence-based dental care statements; factor analysis to identify distinct perspective clusters.
Outcomes reported
The study identified and characterised the perspectives of general dental practitioners (GDPs) on preventive, patient-centred, and evidence-based oral healthcare approaches using Q-methodology. It mapped distinct viewpoint clusters among practitioners regarding implementation of preventive dentistry.
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