IADR Abstract Archives
KNOWLEDGE of SPECIAL NEEDS DENTAL CARE and WILLINGNESS to TREAT SPECIAL CARE PATIENTS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE DENTAL STUDENTS of COLLEGE of MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY of LAGOS (CMUL).
Objectives: The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of special needs dental care and the willingness to treat special care patients among undergraduate dental students of College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL).
Methods: The descriptive cross sectional study surveyed 63 fifth and sixth year undergraduate dental students of CMUL. A census method was used and every unit in the sample frame was included in this study. Data was collected via structured self-administered pre-tested questionnaires and was analyzed electronically.
Results: Response rate was 100%, 44.44% of respondents being fifth year clinical students and 55.56% being sixth year clinical students.
35% of respondents had good knowledge of special needs dental care (SNDC), however, only 32% perceived their undergraduate training as adequate in preparing them to treat special care patients (SCP).
Almost all respondents (93.65%) had had clinical experience/exposure in treating or assisting in treating at least one SCP with 4.76% having treated or assisted in treating up to fifteen SCP.
A high percentage of respondents (73%) were willing to treat SCP. Their major reason for this being to improve skill and knowledge, while their major reason for unwillingness to treat was because it is too difficult.
Significantly, the level of knowledge of SNDC influenced willingness to treat, as those with good and fair knowledge were more willing to treat while those with poor knowledge were more unwilling to treat. Also significantly, self-rated positive previous clinical experience in treating special care patients influenced positively the willingness to include the treatment of SNP in future practice
Conclusions: Few dental undergraduates in CMUL have adequate knowledge of SNDC needed to provide optimal care to the special needs population. However, majority are indeed willing to treat SNP.
Methods: The descriptive cross sectional study surveyed 63 fifth and sixth year undergraduate dental students of CMUL. A census method was used and every unit in the sample frame was included in this study. Data was collected via structured self-administered pre-tested questionnaires and was analyzed electronically.
Results: Response rate was 100%, 44.44% of respondents being fifth year clinical students and 55.56% being sixth year clinical students.
35% of respondents had good knowledge of special needs dental care (SNDC), however, only 32% perceived their undergraduate training as adequate in preparing them to treat special care patients (SCP).
Almost all respondents (93.65%) had had clinical experience/exposure in treating or assisting in treating at least one SCP with 4.76% having treated or assisted in treating up to fifteen SCP.
A high percentage of respondents (73%) were willing to treat SCP. Their major reason for this being to improve skill and knowledge, while their major reason for unwillingness to treat was because it is too difficult.
Significantly, the level of knowledge of SNDC influenced willingness to treat, as those with good and fair knowledge were more willing to treat while those with poor knowledge were more unwilling to treat. Also significantly, self-rated positive previous clinical experience in treating special care patients influenced positively the willingness to include the treatment of SNP in future practice
Conclusions: Few dental undergraduates in CMUL have adequate knowledge of SNDC needed to provide optimal care to the special needs population. However, majority are indeed willing to treat SNP.