Methods: The pre-doctoral curricula of 71 dental institutions including 62 US dental schools and 9 Canadian dental schools were considered. Concepts covering evidence-based approach were extracted from the course lists and/or course descriptions. The independent and integrated courses identified, were summarized into six subheadings including critical thinking, information mastery, research methodology, critical appraisal, clinical decision making and a combination of two or more concepts of EBD.
Results: There were no curricular data available for 6 US dental institutions. 50 dental curricula contained at least one course title covering knowledge and/or skills of EBD. 2 integrated course titles in basic sciences phase and 26 integrated course titles in 12 fields of clinical sciences were identified. 7 independent course titles regarding critical thinking, 6 regarding information mastery, 10 regarding critical appraisal, 30 regarding research methodology and 2 regarding clinical decision making were extracted from available curricula. 20 independent course titles were also found which were combinations of two or more concepts of EBD.
Conclusions: Competency in essentials of EBD is a significant component of most North American dental institutions’ pre-doctoral curricula.