Purpose/objectives
To investigate dental students’ perceptions and concerns regarding the COVID‐19 pandemic, their coping strategies and support resources, and their perceived stress levels.
Methods
A customized 19‐item survey and the perceived stress scale (PSS) were applied to undergraduate dental students from the US, Spain, Ireland, Chile, India, and Brazil between April 10 and July 5, 2020. Linear modeling and mediation analysis were used to explore the relationships among demographics, stressors, coping mechanisms, social support, and stress
Results
A total of 4475 students responded to the survey. The majority (72.4%) were women, and 52.3% had no COVID‐19 training at the time of the survey. The students reported that they had to accommodate to changes in patient care (96.6%) and didactic learning (95.2%) activities, while 88.5% of the respondents indicated at least one of their courses moved online. Transition to online courses went “smoothly with some troubles” for 51.8% of the respondents, and 48.3% perceived the faculty as prepared for the online transition; however, 45.9% reported feeling extremely concerned about the impact of COVID‐19 on their education. The average PSS score was 21.9 of 40 (moderate stress). Multivariate models were built for participants with full data (n = 3899). Being male, having completed more dental coursework, and perceiving a smoother transition were associated with lower PSS scores; more concern about academic progress was associated with higher PSS. Faculty support mediated the relationship between a smoothness of transition and concern about academic progress and PSS scores
Conclusion
Stress caused by the pandemic may be alleviated by smoother transition and good faculty support.
Both conventional methods of information sources like discussions with colleagues and textbook reading as well as contemporary information sources like accessing internet were the preferred methods of information update by dental practitioners of Hubli-Dharwad.
Although current oral health care initiatives have proved to be quite successful, a great number of individuals are unaware of how their choice of daily activities compromises their oral health. That is why newer technologies like WhatsApp can definitely serve as a platform to communicate dental advice, thereby strengthening the bridge between health and technology. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of WhatsApp as a tool for providing health education on tobacco and oral cancer as compared to the conventional health education via PowerPoint. The study was a cluster randomized controlled trial, single-center study. The students of 18-24 years of age with WhatsApp application active in their mobile phones were included. Four classes with 182 students were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Control group received health education on oral cancer using a PowerPoint presentation weekly, for a total of 4 weeks. Intervention group received health education through WhatsApp messaging thrice a week for 4 weeks. Pre- and post-health education knowledge scores were assessed using a questionnaire and compared using unpaired and paired two-sample t tests. Statistically significant increase in knowledge scores was seen in both groups, with highly significant improvement in the intervention group (p value = 0.00). Intergroup comparison showed no significant difference in knowledge scores at baseline, but a significant difference in post intervention knowledge scores (t = -15.05 p<0.001) WhatsApp can be a more effective tool for providing dental education on tobacco and oral cancer as compared to conventional audio-visual aids.
The objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of online and offline learning through higher education. The sudden outbreak of Covid-19 in various part of the world in 2020 has severely affected the educational institutions in various countries. Students were affected in the way to accept the hybrid form of learning and also grasp the interest towards the classes that were conducted online. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of online and offline education in higher education. The study was carried out in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries with 100 respondents among which major responses were from the youth population studying in Bachelor’s program, Diploma and Master’s mostly. The findings indicated that the effectiveness of online education is dismal, as students find it difficult to adjust to the online mode of education and the offline mode of education remains the most preferred mode of education.
Introduction
Dentistry, being one of the healing professions, has a commitment to society that its members will adhere to high ethical standards of conduct. Dental Council of India (DCI), the regulating body for dental professionals in the country, has also given certain guidelines and regulations on advertising issues. But, studies on dentists’ opinion on the issues on advertising for dental professionals in India are very meager. Hence, the aim was to evaluate the opinion on advertising issues among practicing dentists from various dental colleges in Bengaluru, India.
Materials and methods
A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 258 practicing dentists attached to various dental colleges in Bengaluru city. Chi-square test was used to determine the association of independent variables with each of the main outcome of interest.
Results
Out of 258 practicing dentists, nearly three quarters of practitioners (68.2%) agreed that there is a need for some form of advertising. Among those who agreed that there is a need for advertising, more than half of the practitioners (63.6%) said that it is required for popularity, visibility, and good business. When asked about which form of advertising can largely benefit their dental practice, 29.1% agreed on the patient testimonials, and 25.2% thought ads in magazines and newspapers are useful.
Conclusion
Nearly equal number of practitioners agreed and disagreed on the issue of whether advertising may make dentistry seem more like a trade than a health care service. More than three quarters of them agreed with the use of global advertising and tourism.
How to cite this article
Nayak PP, Raju VK, Kshetrimayum N, Ramesh L, Nayak SS, Kamath V. Dentists’ Outlook on Advertising in their Line of Work in Bengaluru, India: A Cross-sectional Study. World J Dent 2016;7(3):141-145.
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