EviDent platform – a feasibility study of acceptability, demand, and impact on dentist readiness for change in seeking and critically evaluating scientific evidence through a randomized controlled trial protocol.) - (twitter @machado_gm)

In the world of medicine, the ideal path is clear: a doctor makes a decision based on the best available scientific proof. This approach, known as evidence-based practice, aims to keep patients safe, avoid unnecessary procedures, and use resources wisely. However, a gap often exists between the latest research published in academic journals and the daily choices made in a clinic. For dentists, finding this information can be difficult, time-consuming, or simply overwhelming. The challenge is not just having the information, but having it in a format that fits into a busy workday and encourages the professional to actually use it. When new tools are created to bridge this gap, researchers must first ask if the tool is useful and if people will actually want to use it before testing if it truly changes behavior.

A team of researchers at the University of São Paulo has designed a study to explore a new digital tool called EviDent. This platform was built by dentists specifically for other dentists, with the goal of translating complex scientific articles into clear, accessible information. The project is not a single event but a carefully planned sequence of steps. First, the team wants to see if the platform is acceptable and if there is a real demand for it among professionals. They are treating the platform as a complex package that includes not just the technology, but also the way the information is presented and the content itself. To test this, they are conducting a small-scale experiment involving two groups: practicing dentists and undergraduate dental students.

The study begins by checking if the platform works as intended in a real-world setting. Researchers will invite a small group of dentists and students to use the app and provide feedback. They will look at how easy the tool is to navigate, whether the content feels appropriate for their daily work, and if the users intend to keep using it. This phase is crucial because it allows the team to refine the tool based on actual user experiences before moving to a larger test. If the users find the infographics confusing or the navigation difficult, the researchers will adjust the design. This initial phase relies on both numbers, such as how often people log in, and personal stories gathered through interviews to understand the human side of using the technology.

Following this initial check, the researchers will launch a randomized controlled trial, which is a rigorous method for testing cause and effect. In this phase, seventy dentists and seventy students will be divided into two groups. One group will use the EviDent platform, receiving pre-processed scientific evidence presented in a user-friendly format with graphics and links to original studies. The other group will continue with their usual methods of finding information, such as searching databases or reading full articles on their own. Neither group will know which specific method the other is using, ensuring a fair comparison. The researchers will track the participants over six months, checking in at the three-month and six-month marks.

The main goal of this trial is to measure "readiness to change." This is a way of gauging how willing a person is to adopt a new behavior, in this case, the habit of seeking out and critically evaluating scientific evidence to guide their clinical decisions. The researchers are not just asking if the dentists know more; they are measuring if the dentists feel more confident, more motivated, and more capable of changing their practice. They will also look at the "stages of change," which describes where a person stands in the process of adopting a new habit, from simply not thinking about it to actively maintaining the new behavior. By comparing the two groups, the team hopes to see if the EviDent platform successfully moves people closer to using evidence-based practices than their standard methods do.

The study also includes a unique comparison between practicing dentists and students. The researchers want to see if the platform works differently for those who are already in the workforce versus those still in training. This helps determine if the tool is effective at shaping habits early in a career or if it is better suited for experienced professionals. Throughout the process, the team is careful to protect the privacy of the participants and ensure that the data is handled securely. They are using established methods to analyze the results, looking for patterns in how the tool is used and how it influences the participants' thoughts and intentions.

This work represents a step in a larger journey to improve dental care. The researchers acknowledge that simply providing information does not guarantee that behavior will change. People need tools that fit their context and address their specific barriers. By testing the EviDent platform in this structured way, the team is gathering evidence on whether a digital tool can successfully encourage dentists to rely more heavily on scientific proof. If the results are positive, it could pave the way for a larger, more comprehensive study. For now, the focus remains on understanding if this specific approach is feasible, acceptable, and capable of shifting the mindset of dental professionals toward a more evidence-driven future.