Students’ perspectives on undergraduate oral surgery education

Abstract

Purpose This study evaluated students’ perceptions of their self-confidence regarding aspects of their undergraduate oral and maxillofacial surgical training. It further aimed to develop a reliable Turkish version of the questionnaire originally developed by the Association of British Academic Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons (ABAOMS) Education Committee. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 40 fourth-year and 47 fifth-year dentistry students of Yeditepe University Faculty of Dentistry in Turkey with a mean age of 23.30 ± 1.50 was conducted in January and February 2018. The ABAOMS questionnaire was adapted to the Turkish language and culture. The items were organized in five domains (general information, self-confidence in oral surgery, role of outreach, anatomy knowledge in relation to oral surgery, and career aspirations) with most response options on a five-point Likert-type scale. Reliability was assessed through an internal consistency analysis and a test-retest approach. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t -tests, and Chi-squared for contingency tests were used to examine the data. Results Cronbach’s alpha coefficient on the questionnaire was 0.89. The responses reflected general agreement among the respondents. Females were significantly more self-confident than males. Although the fifth-year respondents were more self-confident than the fourth-year respondents on items regarding anatomy knowledge, fourth-year respondents were more self confident in forceps extractions. Other than that no major differences in self-confidence were found between the two groups. Conclusion Though self-confidence was high regarding extraction of teeth and retained roots, the participants of this study lacked self-confidence in performing surgical extractions and its related procedures, recognition of malignancies, and ability to differentiate between pain of odontogenic or non-odontogenic origin. Female students were relatively more self-confident. Teaching should focus on practical applications that support students’ sense of self-confidence in their abilities. The Turkish version of the questionnaire was a reliable instrument.

A city‐wide survey of dental students’ opinions on undergraduate oral surgery teaching

“…On the other hand, the students had performed simple extractions on healthy patients in whom haemorrhage is easy to control. In line with previous studies, lower confidence levels were reported in recognition of potential malignant pathologies and skills to differentiate between odontogenic pain and non‐odontogenic pain . This may be due to the low incidence of malignancies presenting at student clinics.…”

“…Whilst the majority of the respondents were females, which represented the shift of dental workforce, the male respondents were more confident in all aspects of elevator and forceps use with surgical extraction in line with previous studies . However, this result was in contrast with a previous adaptation questionnaire, which was conducted at a private dental school in Istanbul with a small sample size . The result here may reflect either part of personal makeup or reduced exposure to surgical extraction by female respondents, and these differences in data may be attributed to the increased number of participants and might be related to the higher level of confidence in the anatomical knowledge of the male respondents as well.…”

“…Higher confidence levels were recorded in diagnosing and managing acute pericoronitis, haemorrhage control, recognising removal of impacted third molars and referral to a specialist as indicated by Cabbar et al These findings might be associated with specific symptoms of acute pericoronitis which makes it simple to diagnose and manage the process. On the other hand, the students had performed simple extractions on healthy patients in whom haemorrhage is easy to control.…”

“…The ABAOMS Questionnaire was adapted into Turkish by Cabbar et al on 102 4th and 5th year students to assess the whole questionnaire under actual survey circumstances at a private dental school in Istanbul. The Questionnaire contains 17 questions covering five sections, designed to gather information on educational background, self‐evaluation of gaining main competencies outlined in a previously published oral surgery curriculum and including the year of education, gender and data on the approximate number of extractions.…”

Dental Students’ Perceptions of Undergraduate Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Teaching in an Integrated Curriculum at Kuwait University

“…[3,4,6,7] The Association of British Academic Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons (ABAOMS) educational committee have constructed a thorough and validated questionnaire instrument to assess the self-con dence of the dental students according to their undergraduate oral and maxillofacial surgery teaching and have been used in several countries. [7][8][9][10] The ABAOMS instrument is made of 17 questions assessing the student's con dence in performing oral surgery procedures, role of outreach in oral surgery, anatomy teaching in relation to oral surgery, and oral surgery career aspiration. [7] The Faculty of Dentistry at Kuwait University started the undergraduate Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery teaching curriculum in 2002, when the dental students started their clinical years.…”