In your view, was JADA’s Question of the Month a worthwhile feature?
With this edition, JADA is discontinuing its Question of the Month feature. Introduced in September 1995, this informal, nonscientific opinion poll has solicited readers’ views on roughly 110 timely topics, ranging from dental education to retirement planning and everything in between.
When asked if they thought JADA’s Question of the Month was a worthwhile feature, 81 percent of respondents to May JADA’s Question of the Month said yes. "It provided an alternate forum for a wide range of topics that were important and made us think about our positions on them," said one. "I will miss it!"
"It was nice to see how other dentists felt about these issues," said another.
"While not scientific, at least it gave an indication of the prevailing thinking—for better or for worse," said one more reader.
Other respondents indicated that they had been active participants. "Of course I found it worthwhile," said one. "One of my comments was printed!"
"It gave me a chance to vent, and it told me what others thought and felt," said another. "Thanks for nine years’ worth."
And still other readers said they would like to see the Question of the Month feature continue. "I wish you would not discontinue this feature," said one. "It is one way to take a ‘pulse’ of the membership on issues with reasonably quick feedback."
"I’m sad to see ‘the good stuff’ go," said another. "I learned a lot, and it was humbling to discover how much I didn’t know."
Eleven percent of respondents said they did not think that the Question of the Month was a worthwhile feature. One said, "It had no scientific validity and did not belong in a juried professional journal."
"I never found the results useful," said another.
Among the 8 percent of respondents who answered "I don’t know," one said, "The questions were generally not of the type that would give direction to clinical decision making."
"It is one of the less necessary features of our science-based journal," said another. "But, I have enjoyed expressing my opinions to these questions and reading those of others."
The variety and depth of your responses have never failed to impress us, and we appreciate your participation.
