IADR Abstract Archives
Caries Risk Assessment After Graduation:Tufts Alumni Use, Attitudes and Beliefs
Objectives: The project aimed to determine the acceptance and use of caries risk assessment (CRA) and prevention by Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) alumni after graduation.
Methods: In 2013, TUSDM implemented CRA Competency Examination. A modified validated survey was distributed to 5000 TUSDM DMD alumni, who graduated between 1975 and 2019 (IRB exempt study). The survey had 38 questions assessing the use and beliefs regarding CRA. Alumni were placed into two groups: Group 1=those who graduated prior to 2013 and Group 2=those who graduated in or after 2013. The association between group and use and beliefs of CRA was assessed using the Mann Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: The survey had a response rate of 11.7%, for a total of 586 responses. Response rates for Group 1=63.7% and Group 2=36.3%. 37% of Group 1 was under the age of 45, while 99% of Group 2 was under the age of 45. Group 1 was 56% male, while Group 2 was 36% male. And, 83% of Group 1 was in private practice, while 68% of Group 2 was in private practice.The results show 11 statistically significant associations including:
a significantly significant association: between graduation groups and the use of a routine caries risk assessment, p = 0.0398; AND between graduation group and the belief that a dentist’s use of CRA can predict the development of new caries in the patient’s future p= 0.0227; Data also show the statistically significant associations between the graduation group and important factors when deciding on preventive treatment AND between graduation group and the use of specific preventive techniques.
Conclusions: Alumni who graduated after the implementation of the CAMBRA CE use CAMBRA philosophies and protocols more than those who graduated before the CAMBRA CE implementation.
Methods: In 2013, TUSDM implemented CRA Competency Examination. A modified validated survey was distributed to 5000 TUSDM DMD alumni, who graduated between 1975 and 2019 (IRB exempt study). The survey had 38 questions assessing the use and beliefs regarding CRA. Alumni were placed into two groups: Group 1=those who graduated prior to 2013 and Group 2=those who graduated in or after 2013. The association between group and use and beliefs of CRA was assessed using the Mann Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: The survey had a response rate of 11.7%, for a total of 586 responses. Response rates for Group 1=63.7% and Group 2=36.3%. 37% of Group 1 was under the age of 45, while 99% of Group 2 was under the age of 45. Group 1 was 56% male, while Group 2 was 36% male. And, 83% of Group 1 was in private practice, while 68% of Group 2 was in private practice.The results show 11 statistically significant associations including:
a significantly significant association: between graduation groups and the use of a routine caries risk assessment, p = 0.0398; AND between graduation group and the belief that a dentist’s use of CRA can predict the development of new caries in the patient’s future p= 0.0227; Data also show the statistically significant associations between the graduation group and important factors when deciding on preventive treatment AND between graduation group and the use of specific preventive techniques.
Conclusions: Alumni who graduated after the implementation of the CAMBRA CE use CAMBRA philosophies and protocols more than those who graduated before the CAMBRA CE implementation.