Dentists' responses about the effectiveness of continuing education activities

Indonesian dentists' views on providing oral health care for older adults

BACKGROUND

With demographic changes in aging populations, dentists require special care protocols to treat older adults with diverse and complex oral health needs and problems. Knowledge, positive attitudes, and sufficient practice experience are essential components for promptly treating older adults. However, many dentists encounter multiple barriers influencing their willingness to provide care for older adults. This study assessed Indonesian dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in providing oral health care (OHC) for older adults, including their willingness and barriers.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 392 dentists employing an online questionnaire between April and June 2022. The respondents' KAP was categorised utilising a modified Blooms' cut-off point of ≥60%. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the x2 test, and logistic regression.

RESULTS

Most dentists demonstrated adequate knowledge (62.2%), a positive attitude (95.4%), sufficient practice experience (91.6%), and a high willingness (98%) to provide OHC services for older adults. However, 91.4% encountered barriers primarily related to interpersonal communication, disease complexity and polypharmacy, and patient functional status. Significant associations were found between dentists' attitudes toward practices and willingness to attend geriatric dentistry training with knowledge.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of continuing professional development (CPD) in geriatric dentistry, the inclusion of geriatric dentistry into the undergraduate curriculum, and enhancing clinic accessibility for older adults may improve dentists' preparedness and benefit the future provision of OHC for older adults in Indonesia.

Variation in the Use of Basic Behavioral Management Techniques in General and Pediatric Dental Practice: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim:

Basic guidance on nonpharmacological behavioral management techniques in dental practice is fundamental for the effective treatment of pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to compare the use of basic nonpharmacological behavior guidance in general and specialist pediatric dentists and to evaluate the perceived difference in their effectiveness across hospital clinics in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Material and Methods:

A cross-sectional study with a nonpurposive sample of 179 registered general and pediatric dentists in the Saudi Dental Society based in Jeddah in 2019. Participants were contacted and asked to complete a validated questionnaire. The first section of the questionnaire comprised questions on demographic data and the second section investigated the frequency of the use of various behavioral management techniques. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages) and inferential statistics were used.

Results:

A total of 109 participants completed the survey; 52 were general dentists and 57 were pediatric dentists. The techniques tell–show–do ( P = .018), positive reinforcement ( P = .004), distraction ( P = .001), and nonverbal communication ( P = .001) were used more frequently by pediatric dentists than general dentists, and there were statistically significant differences. Also, pediatric dentists reported that the techniques tell–show–do ( P = 0.035), positive reinforcement ( P = .026), distraction ( P = .011), and nonverbal communication ( P = .007) were highly effective more often than general dentists did.

Conclusions:

Statistically significant differences were found between general and pediatric dentists in the use of basic behavioral management techniques. Broadly, general dentists used fewer behavior guidance techniques compared to pediatric dentists. More pediatric dentists reported that behavioral management techniques were effective in comparison to general dentists.

Dental Anxiety Screening and Management Practices in Dental Practice in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to investigate dental anxiety (DA) screening and management practices among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia. The study also evaluated correlation between patients' self-reported DA and dentists' ratings of patients' DA.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional observational study included dentist/patient pairs (N = 279) from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The dentists responded to a questionnaire about their DA screening and management practices and they evaluated patients' DA using the visual analogue scale (VAS). In addition, patients responded to the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) to measure their DA.

RESULTS

About 15.1% of dentists reported using a published scale for screening DA in dental practice and Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale and Dental Fear Survey were their main scales. However, 69.2% reported directly asking their patients about DA. The use of DA management technique was reported by 89.6% of the dentists. Approximately half of the participants (53%) reported receiving DA training in their undergraduate dentistry programs and 65.2% expressed their interest in continuing education courses related to DA. In multiple logistic regression analysis, statistically significant factors associated with DA screening practice included gender (AOR = 0.46, P = 0.037), place of work (AOR = 3.68, P = 0.039), and interest in continuing education courses (AOR = 3.21, P = 0.015). Monthly income (AOR = 0.20, P = 0.029) and directly asking patient about DA (AOR = 6.15, P = 0.025) were significant factors associated with management of patients with DA. The study also showed a significant but weak correlation between DA evaluated by the dentists and DA reported by the patients (rho = 0.185, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

The present study showed a low prevalence of DA screening practices among dentists. Dentists' rating of patients' DA weakly correlated with patients' self-reported DA.

Eleven-year experience implementing a dental undergraduate research programme in a prestigious dental school in China: Lessons learned and future prospects

OBJECTIVE

To summarise the lessons learned from implementing a dental undergraduate research programme over the past eleven years and identify key elements to guarantee the success of dental undergraduate research in the future.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An overview of 80 research projects from 2007 to 2017 was provided, consisting of 239 participating undergraduates and 47 faculty advisors. Students' academic performance was compared between participating and non-participating undergraduates. An anonymous questionnaire was designed and distributed to participants, with VAS satisfaction assessment, Likert-scale items and open-ended questions. Questions focused on overall satisfaction, motivation, benefits to student career development and essential elements for the dental undergraduate research programme in the future.

RESULTS

The undergraduate participants had significantly better scores of GPAs (3.41 vs 3.21; P < 0.0001), obtained more awards on the honour rolls (0.53 vs 0.30; P = 0.0171) and published more peer-reviewed articles (1.62 vs 1.31; P = 0.0253) than non-participants. Seventy-two undergraduates (75.79%) and thirty-eight advisors (80.85%) responded to the questionnaire. The overall satisfaction was scored as 78.18/100 and 72.36/100 amongst advisors and students, respectively. Interest was considered the best motivation for participation by students (3.81/5.00) and advisors (4.00/5.00). The research programme was beneficial to students' overall career development. Essential roles played by the dental school, faculty and undergraduates were suggested to improve the research environment.

CONCLUSION

The dental undergraduate research programme has positive effects on students' academic performance. The support of the dental school, the engagement of qualified faculty, the interest and autonomy of students and camaraderie amongst these three key elements are essential for the research programme in the future.

Pandemic preparedness of dentists against coronavirus disease: A Saudi Arabian experience

Background

Dental offices are among the highest risk for transmission of the COVID-19, having the potential to transmit the virus via routine dental procedures. This cross-sectional study assessed the preparedness and perception of infection control measures against the COVID-19 pandemic by dentists in Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods

This online survey addressed the impact and perception of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental practice in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire comprised 26 closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics included frequency distributions with percentages. In addition, the significance between the different demographic variables and questions about dentists’ perception of the COVID-19 pandemic was tested using the Chi-square test.

Results

COVID-19 management in dental clinics varied in terms of adherence to the Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines. Dental clinics’ screening questionnaire for patients showed good adherence (67%), while the lowest agreement was detected with the question on the existence of an airborne infection in the isolation room (15%). Almost two-thirds of the respondents agreed that the dental reception area adopted the proper COVID-19 preventive measures. Greatest accord was observed in their answers on questions about dentists’ perception of the COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from 64%–89%. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in questions about the perception of dentists towards the COVID-19 pandemic by different demographic variables such as age and years of work experience (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The response of most dentists regarding the preparedness and perception of infection control measures against the COVID-19 pandemic was positive. Dental clinics need to adhere more to the MOH recommendations in preparedness of their facilities or by educating their dentists and staff.

Determinants of knowledge and practice of forensic dentistry amongst dental practitioners

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the determinants of knowledge and practice of forensic dentistry (FD) amongst dental practitioners.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on dental practitioners working in private and public sectors in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A pilot tested self-administered questionnaire was distributed amongst an estimated sample of 323 dentists. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

In the study, 72.4% of the estimated sample returned completed questionnaires. There were 142 male (60.7%) and 92 female dentists (39.3%) in the study. There were 59 (25.2%) dentists who had the knowledge of FD and 27 (11.5%) handled the cases related to FD. Multivariable logistic regression showed that receiving FD training in undergraduate program (Adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 10.31, 95% CI = 4.67-22.76), and updating the information of FD (AOR = 6.68, 95% CI = 2.81-15.86) were significantly associated with increased odds of having the knowledge of FD. Similarly, updating the information of FD (AOR = 7.56, 95% CI = 2.54-22.51) and having ≥5 years of clinical experience (AOR = 4.64, 95% CI = 1.00-21.40) were significant determinants of handling the cases of FD. The adjusted odds ratio for the maintenance of dental records was 4.16 times higher for specialists and consultants than general dentists.

CONCLUSION

The study found that the dentists who received FD training had greater chances of having FD knowledge. Updating information about FD was associated with improved knowledge and practice of FD. Dental curricula should provide knowledge and skills of FD to students in undergraduate programs and the dentists should learn about FD through different educational sources.

Increase in detection of oral cancer and precursor lesions by dentists: Evidence from an oral and maxillofacial pathology service

BACKGROUND

Dentists play an important role in the detection and diagnosis of oral diseases, including oral cancer and its precursor lesions. There are few comprehensive reviews in the recent literature that examine the scope and trends of oral disease diagnoses by dentists.

METHODS

The authors analyzed all accessions to the Toronto Oral Pathology Service at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, from 2005 through 2015 using a custom-built database. They used these data to calculate the temporal trends in the diagnoses of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

RESULTS

A total of 63,483 biopsy specimens were submitted primarily by dentists from 2005 through 2015. From these, 2,679 cases of OED and 828 OSCC were diagnosed. The authors' results show a 3.8-fold increase in the number of epithelial dysplasias and a 1.8-fold increase in mucosal carcinomas over the study period. The rate of increase of OED and OSCC was significantly higher than the rate of increase of total oral carcinomas diagnosed in the region, the population changes, and the number of dentists in the region.

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Within the limitations of a study of a single large oral pathology biopsy service, the analysis of diagnoses shows that dentists are increasingly involved in the detection of oral mucosal carcinoma and precursor lesions. The dental community plays an important and increasing role in the detection of oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. Increased awareness among oral health care and nonoral health care professionals may increase early detection of OSCC.

Long-term skill improvement among general dental practitioners after a short training programme in diagnosing calcified carotid artery atheromas on panoramic radiographs

PURPOSE

To study general dental practitioners (GDPs) ability to detect calcified carotid artery atheromas (CCAAs) in panoramic radiographs (PRs) and if their diagnostic accuracy in long term is improved after a short training programme.

METHODS

Fourteen GDPs had their diagnostic accuracy regarding CCAA in PR assessed at baseline, 2 weeks and 1 year after training. Comparison was made with a reference standard based on consensus results from two experienced oral and maxillofacial radiologists. At each session, 100 radiographs were assessed individually by the GDPs. After the baseline assessment, the GDPs participated in a 2-hour training programme comprising a lecture and diagnostic training by calibration. The GDPs results before and after training were compared, as well as between follow-up sessions.

RESULTS

A significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy was observed with increased sensitivity (from 41.8% to 55.7%, P = 0.02) without a significant decrease in specificity (from 87.2% to 86.7%, P = 0.87). The Kappa values also increased (from 0.66 to 0.71, P = 0.04). At 1-year follow-up, the improvement compared to baseline remained significant. There were no significant changes between the 2-week and 1-year follow-up assessment.

CONCLUSION

A short training programme can significantly and sustainable improve GDPs diagnostic accuracy regarding CCAA.