Undergraduate dental students’ attitudes and confidence to treat older patients

Objectives: To assess 4th year dental students’ perceived abilities and confidence to provide dental treatment to older patients. Methods: A questionnaire was administered before class to two groups of 4th year students over a two year period. Students were asked to rate their confidence and abilities in a number of areas and scenarios associated with providing care to the older patient. Responses ranged from 1=very poor, 2=poor, 3=average, 4=good and 5=very good. Data were entered into SPSS and descriptive statistics carried out. Results: 63 students answered the questionnaire. Among these, 50.8% rated their knowledge of polypharmacy and disease in the elderly as “average”. In general students didn’t feel confident with dealing with medical emergencies relating to elderly patients with 44.4% rating their confidence as “average”. 46% of the participants believe they possess sufficient knowledge/skills to treat patients on multiple medications with only 9.5% believing they did not have such skills. Most participants felt they hadn’t received sufficient didactic teaching or practical experience on the treatment/management of elderly patients. Conclusions: While providing dental treatment to the older patient is becoming more important, it’s evident that students don’t feel confident in a number of dental scenarios in their fourth year of training. Data will be collected from the same group as they move into 5th year and it is expected that there will be growing confidence in dealing with such scenarios. Recommendations will be made then in relation to the undergraduate teaching of gerodontology in the Cork University Dental Hospital.