Clinical Competence of Undergraduate Dental Students in Pediatric Dentistry at a Saudi Dental School

Abstract

dental school. Material and Methods: A retrospective audit of students' clinical competency sheets of fourth and fifth-year students (n= 102) over two years was performed. Mean competency scores for each clinical procedure as well as overall scores of the students were compared according to their academic level and gender. Also, the percentage of competent students was compared according to the academic level. Chi-square and t-tests were used to analyze the data (p<0.05). Results: Compared to fifth-year students, fourth-year students were significantly more competent in pediatric dentistry (100% scored >50% overall compared to 86.9 % of fifth-year students). They had significantly higher mean overall scores (84.63 ± 9.15 compared to 67.68 ± 13.83) as well as individual scores in performing an examination, diagnosis, and treatment planning of a child patient, restorations, and stainless steel crowns than fifth-year students. In addition, females had significantly higher mean scores in the aforementioned procedures and in placing esthetic crowns (p<0.05). Conclusion: Fourth-year dental students at Qassim University were more competent clinically than fifth-year students in pediatric dentistry. Also, in most of the shared procedures, females were more competent than males. A deficiency in the competence of fifth-year students was noted in pulp therapy, stainless steel and esthetic crowns procedures, and these are currently being addressed.

Courses that Impact the Terminal Efficiency in the Dentistry Career at the University of Costa Rica (2007-2014)

“…Within the core courses of the Dentistry program, the Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics Clinic shows the lowest academic performance. This could be attributed to the complexity of dealing with children's behavior as well as the clinical treatments performed on primary teeth, such as pulp therapy, stainless steel crowns, and extractions, compared to similar treatments in adults, which can lead to higher stress levels among students (31). Another factor that can affect performance is the reported fear among many students in health-related fields, even those with excellent academic performance when it comes to executing procedures that could impact the physical integrity of patients under their care.…”

“…Dentro de los cursos propios de la carrera, la Clínica de Odontopediatría y Ortodoncia es la que más bajo rendimiento académico presenta. Esto puede deberse a que abordar el comportamiento de un niño es complejo, y adicional, el realizar tratamientos clínicos en dientes primarios, como terapia pulpar, coronas de acero cromado, y exodoncias, presentan un mayor nivel de estrés en el estudiantado que realizar tratamientos parecidos en adultos (31). Otro factor que puede afectar el rendimiento es que se reporta que muchos estudiantes de las carreras asociadas a la salud, inclusive aquellos con excelente rendimiento, sienten temor de ejecutar procedimientos que afecten la integridad física de los pacientes bajo su cuidado, lo que ocasiona retrasos en los tratamientos, aumento de citas a los pacientes, y en algunos casos, la reprobación del curso (32) , y si a lo anterior se le suma que en esta clínica se atienden niños, dichos miedos y retrasos en los tratamientos pueden ser aún mayores provocando la imposibilidad de cumplir con las competencias exigidas en el periodo académico.…”