Dental Public Health & Evidence-Based Dentistry Flashcards
6 cards from real MJDF practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Dental Public Health & Evidence-Based Dentistry flashcards as text
What does 'NNT of 10' mean clinically?
Answer: Ten patients must be treated to prevent one additional adverse outcome — the smaller the NNT, the more effective the treatment
NNT of 10 means that if 10 patients receive the treatment, one additional patient will benefit (compared to control); lower NNT indicates more effective treatment with greater clinical impact.
What is the relationship between alpha (α) error (Type I error) and p-value in clinical dental research?
Answer: The p-value represents the probability of observing the result by chance alone if H0 is true; α is the predetermined threshold (usually 0.05) for rejecting H0 — p < α means statistically significant
The p-value is the probability that results as extreme as observed could arise by chance under the null hypothesis; when p < α (usually 0.05), we reject H0 — but statistical significance does not equal clinical significance.
What is the purpose of the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan software?
Answer: Produce forest plots and meta-analyses for systematic reviews — visually displays pooled effect sizes and heterogeneity across trials
RevMan (Review Manager) is used to enter, manage, and analyse data from individual studies for Cochrane systematic reviews, producing forest plots that visually summarise pooled effect estimates and heterogeneity.
What is 'heterogeneity' in the context of a meta-analysis?
Answer: Variation in results across individual studies due to differences in population, intervention, or outcomes — assessed by I² statistic (>75% = high heterogeneity)
Heterogeneity refers to variability in results across included studies; statistical heterogeneity is quantified by I² — I² > 75% indicates substantial heterogeneity, questioning whether pooling results in a meta-analysis is appropriate.
What is the key principle behind the precautionary approach in public health decision-making for dental materials?
Answer: When evidence is uncertain, take preventive action to protect public health — basis for restrictions on mercury use in dentistry (Minamata Convention)
The precautionary principle advises that absence of definitive evidence of harm is not a reason for inaction when plausible risks exist; this underpins EU/UK restrictions on amalgam use (Minamata Convention phase-down).
What is the primary aim of the UK Government's 'Smile4Life' oral health improvement programme?
Answer: Improve oral health of vulnerable adults (learning disabilities, mental health issues, older adults) through accessible, person-centred care
Smile4Life is a national framework for improving the oral health of vulnerable adults in Scotland, addressing the significant oral health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, and older care home residents.