Does the Level of Confidence Exhibited by Dental Students Predict the Outcome of Complete Denture Therapy?

Abstract

Purpose/Objectives.<?tex id="Q1" staff-cmt="&#x201C;It is very important for the corresponding author to have a linked ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) account on MTS. To register a linked ORCID account, please go to the Account Update page (http://mts.hindawi.com/update/ Development of self-confidence is as important as competency in technical and clinical skills of a dental student. This study assessed the association of the level of confidence in dental students with the level of satisfaction of patients and the clinical outcome in the management of complete denture patients. Materials and Methods. Fifty-seven final-year dental students in the year 2019 and the first edentulous patient managed by them were recruited for the study. A fourteen-item questionnaire was given to the students to assess their level of confidence just before commencement of the treatment. Questionnaire for the patients was used to assess their satisfaction both with the operator and the dentures. Clinical outcome of dentures was assessed using ten criteria. Results. The average confidence level of the students was found to be 2.17 in a 4-point scale. A two-sample test indicated that there is a significant difference in the overall level of confidence between female and male students (p value = 0.004). Moreover, a nonparametric correlation analysis revealed that there is no significant correlation between the overall level of confidence of each student and patient satisfaction regarding student performance, level of satisfaction of patients regarding dentures, and the quality of dentures as assessed by the clinicians (p value = 0.545, 0.877, and 0.801, respectively). Conclusions. Students’ level of confidence in carrying out complete denture procedures is satisfactory. Male students exhibited a better overall level of confidence than female students. However, the level of confidence exhibited by the dental students does not predict patient satisfaction or clinical outcome.

Level of anxiety in clinical settings and coping mechanisms used by dental undergraduate students to overcome it

“…The multiple clinical and laboratory procedure involved in the fabrication and the multiple visits of the patient, makes the prosthetic replacement procedures tiring for both students and patients. A flaw in any laboratory procedure or lack of clinical skills can lead to improper fabrication of a denture hence causing patient dissatisfaction 23 . This finding was not enforced by other studies which could be due to the difference in curriculum and clinical requirements in other countries.…”

Clinical Preparedness in a Dental School Setting: A Collaborative Approach to Patient Care through Teaching, Learning, and Clinical Preparedness

“…We found that students who felt more prepared had more confidence in their abilities, and felt they were ready to treat patients at an earlier time frame than their classmates. This is an important finding regarding curriculum development because even though clinical confidence and competency do not necessarily correlate, increasing self confidence in "clinical activities are considered an essential element in teaching dentistry [10]". Another study found that "complex procedures that were least practiced scored the lowest in overall mean (student) confidence" [11].…”

Self-reported stress among senior dental students during complete denture procedures

“…Nevertheless, they do not always feel confident when providing treatment to patients, which might subject them to high levels of stress. [ 7 8 9 ] It is important to assess students’ stress levels in different conditions as high-stress can lower levels of academic commitment as well as impair students’ performance. [ 10 11 ]…”

“…Moreover, patient cooperation and satisfaction plays a fundamental role in the success of the procedure. [ 8 ] Dental students often face a lot of difficulties dealing with edentulous cases and feel the burden to face the challenges of each clinical step involved. [ 12 13 ] As students’ progress in their training level, their confidence increases and stress levels during clinical procedures are expected to be minimized.…”