Topics of internal medicine for undergraduate dental education: a qualitative study

Evaluation of a concept to classify anamnesis-related risk of complications and oral diseases in patients attending the clinical course in dental education

BACKGROUND

Aim of the current study was the assessment of risk classes according to a previously established system to classify the anamnesis-related risk of complications and of oral diseases in a cohort of patients attending the dental student course for dental preventive measures.

METHODS

Patients attending the student course between April 2020 and December 2021 were included. To assess the medical history, a specific anamnesis tool was used, which included the classification of different potential anamneis-related risks originating from general diseases, medications or lifestyle factors into a low, moderate or high risk of complications and/or risk of oral diseases. Thereby, the risk of complications was defined as the increaeed probability of harm during dental measures (professional tooth cleaning, invasive dental treatment or any kind of manipulation, which may cause a bacteremia), e.g. infectious endocarditis. On the other hand, the risk of oral diseases was an increaeed probability of development and/or progression of oral diseases like caries, periodontitis or mucosal diseases. Those risk classes were subsequently analyzed under consideration of age and gender.

RESULTS

858 patients, with a mean age of 50.48 ± 20.72 [median: 52.0] years, and a nearly balanced gender distribution (50.8% female and 49.2% male) were included. In the overall cohort, the risk of complications related with dental measures was low in 38.3%, moderate in 42.4% and high in 19.3% of participants. The risk of oral diseases was low in 33.1%, moderate in 37.2% and high in 29.7% of participants. Both, the risk of complications and the risk of oral diseases increased with patients' age (p < 0.01). Thereby, the risk of complications as well as the risk of oral diseases related to general diseases and medication significantly increased with age (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Nearly one fifth of patients in dental student couse show a high risk of complications related with dental measures. Morever, nearly one third of those individuals have a high anamnesis-related risk of oral diseases. With increasing age, the amount of patients in high risk classes becomes higher. Future dental education and research should address the high relevance of anamnesis-related risk factors.

Evaluation of an educational concept for risk-oriented prevention in undergraduate dental education

BACKGROUND

Aim of this observational study with a three-month follow-up was to evaluate an educational concept for risk-oriented prevention applied by fifth-year undergraduate dental students.

METHODS

Dental students from two clinical treatment courses of the last undergraduate year were included. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their assignment to the two clinical classes. Group A received a sequence of seminars, including the basics of a risk classification system (RCS) with the theoretical background and case studies in the context of preventive dentistry. Thereby, 1) a theoretical seminar (background, RCS, cases) and 2) the transfer of the RCS on a clinical patient case chosen by the student, and its presentation within a discussion round was applied. Group B served as a comparison group with students who did not receive any of teaching events in terms of RCS. The self-perceived knowledge and importance of RCS, as well as objective knowledge (qualitative questions), were assessed with a standardized questionnaire at baseline and after 3 months.

RESULTS

Out of 90 students at baseline, 79 (group A: 39, group B: 40) were re-evaluated after 3 months. At this follow-up, Group A estimated their confidence in handling the medication (p = 0.02), the RCS (p < 0.01), and in identifying the risk of oral diseases (p = 0.02) higher than group B. Furthermore, group A felt it was more important to identify patients at risk (p = 0.02), the risk of complications (p = 0.02) and to apply an RCS (p = 0.03). At follow-up, group A exhibited more correct answers of qualitative questions than group B regarding risk of complications (p < 0.01) and bacteremia (p < 0.01). Group A felt more confident with at-risk patients and more competent concerning RCS than group B (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The concept for educating risk-oriented prevention increased the self-perceived skills and the knowledge of undergraduate dental students after 3 months within a clinical treatment course.

Internal diseases encountered by dental students while treating dental patients during undergraduate training

BACKGROUND

The number of internal diseases, disorders and syndromes (IMDDSs) encountered in dental practice is increasing. Dentists report to feel ill prepared by their undergraduate dental training for the management of IMDDSs. To increase the effectiveness of internal medicine training at dental school it might be necessary to focus on IMDDs encountered by dental students. The aim of our study was to identify IMDDSs dental students come across while treating dental patients during the clinical years of their undergraduate training.

METHODS

All dental patients treated between April and July 2015 by 116 dental students enrolled at the Medical Faculty of Hamburg University in the semesters 7 to 10 were anonymously analysed retrospectively with respect to age, gender, smoking habits, drinking habits, current or previous diseases, allergies, current medication, dental diagnoses, and dental treatment in the current semester. Identified IMDDSs were clustered and evaluated.

RESULTS

The 116 dental students treated 511 patients with 559 IMDDSs with a median of one IMDDS per patient. The IMDDSs encountered most frequently could be assigned to the subspecialties cardiology, endocrinology/diabetology, and rheumatology. Arterial hypertension occurred most frequently in dental patients, followed by diabetes mellitus type 2, and chronic bronchitis.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified the spectrum of IMDDSs encountered by dental students in the clinical years of their undergraduate dental education. Further studies are needed to test the effects of learning internal medicine with an internal medicine course based on the IMDDSs encountered by dental students and including additional IMDDSs specific relevance for dentists.

Awareness of Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Infective Endocarditis Among Dental Students and Interns at a Teaching Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Introduction : Infective endocarditis is a serious infection of the heart endothelium and valves. It carries long-term health risks and compromises the heart condition. However, this condition has been rarely observed since the introduction of appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis. Dentists play a major role in preventing infective endocarditis in susceptible patients. In this study, we assessed the levels of awareness about antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis among students and young dentists at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods : This cross-sectional study included 367 dental students and dental interns who answered a questionnaire designed to assess their awareness levels; it included questions pertaining to demographic information and questions examining the general knowledge of the participants with regard to antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis. Results : An average of 50% of the participants clearly lacked knowledge regarding the conditions that require antibiotic prophylaxis, while an average of 65% provided correct answers pertaining to the conditions that do not require prophylaxis. Regarding dental procedures that require prophylaxis, the majority of responses were correct with an average of 71.2%. With regard to the type of antibiotic to be prescribed, 63.5% of the participants chose to prescribe 2 g of amoxicillin as a first-line antibiotic. Conclusion : The results of this study showed that the levels of awareness about antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis are below 100%. Awareness is essential because of the cardiac risks associated with the lack of appropriate treatment. Up-to-date and accurate knowledge is mandatory for all dental students and interns who see and treat patients on a daily basis.