IADR Abstract Archives
ASSESSMENT of CONFIDENCE LEVEL in PERFORMING DENTAL TREATMENTS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE DENTAL STUDENTS in LAGOS STATE TRANSITIONING FROM PRE-CLINICAL to CLINICAL CLASSES.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the confidence level in performing dental treatments among undergraduate dental students transitioning from pre-clinical to clinical classes.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 84 undergraduate dental students in Lagos State. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and a scaled response to determine the level of confidence in performing various dental procedures was utilized. Data were entered and analyzed using the epi-info software.
Results: The study found that the students were most confident in performing preventive treatments (63.1%), followed by restorative treatments (56.0%), and least confident in performing surgical treatments (40.5%). The students were most confident in history taking (92.9%), followed by scaling and polishing (88.1%), and giving oral hygiene instructions (85.7%). The students were least confident in performing subgingival scaling (33.3%), posterior teeth root canal treatment (38.1%), tooth bleaching and veneer preparations (42.9%), and fabrication of complete denture (45.2%). There was a significant difference in the confidence level of the students in the two dental schools. Students from the College of Medicine, University of lagos, were more confident compared to students from the Lagos State University, College of Medicine (p<0.05).
The study suggests that social demographic factors such as age and the dental school attended may influence the confidence level of undergraduate dental students in performing dental procedures. Overall, the study suggests that undergraduate dental students in Lagos State are more confident in performing preventive and restorative treatments compared to surgical treatments.
Conclusions: The students were confident in simple procedures but had the least confidence in more complex procedures which were not routinely performed. Increased clinical time in complex procedures and early exposure of the students to the clinical settings would help encourage improvement in confidence level regarding patient management.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 84 undergraduate dental students in Lagos State. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and a scaled response to determine the level of confidence in performing various dental procedures was utilized. Data were entered and analyzed using the epi-info software.
Results: The study found that the students were most confident in performing preventive treatments (63.1%), followed by restorative treatments (56.0%), and least confident in performing surgical treatments (40.5%). The students were most confident in history taking (92.9%), followed by scaling and polishing (88.1%), and giving oral hygiene instructions (85.7%). The students were least confident in performing subgingival scaling (33.3%), posterior teeth root canal treatment (38.1%), tooth bleaching and veneer preparations (42.9%), and fabrication of complete denture (45.2%). There was a significant difference in the confidence level of the students in the two dental schools. Students from the College of Medicine, University of lagos, were more confident compared to students from the Lagos State University, College of Medicine (p<0.05).
The study suggests that social demographic factors such as age and the dental school attended may influence the confidence level of undergraduate dental students in performing dental procedures. Overall, the study suggests that undergraduate dental students in Lagos State are more confident in performing preventive and restorative treatments compared to surgical treatments.
Conclusions: The students were confident in simple procedures but had the least confidence in more complex procedures which were not routinely performed. Increased clinical time in complex procedures and early exposure of the students to the clinical settings would help encourage improvement in confidence level regarding patient management.