Are OMFS Dental Core Trainees confident in performing biopsies? A regional audit

Abstract

Dental Core Trainees (DCTs) in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) units participate in a wide range of clinical activities. One such activity is performing biopsies. Research into the attitudes of General Dental Practitioners towards performing biopsies concludes an overall feeling of concern surrounding the lack of practical skills and the possibility of errors which may occur as a result. To the best of our knowledge, no research has been carried out investigating the attitudes of OMFS DCTs towards performing biopsies, an integral part of their post. To investigate how confident DCTs felt towards the various aspects of performing biopsies, paper questionnaires were distributed to the OMFS DCTs in the London, Kent Surrey and Sussex (LKSS) Deanery. 73% of respondents were expected to perform biopsies independently as part of their training post yet only 12% of DCTs felt completely confident doing so. Of the DCTs involved, 78% reported that undergraduate biopsy training was delivered in the format of lectures with only 2% of participants reporting hands-on biopsy experience as undergraduate students. In light of these findings, biopsy training sessions were devised and delivered to the new cohort of OMFS DCTs at the annual ‘’Basic Surgical Skills'’ course in the LKSS deanery. Post-training questionnaires yielded improved confidence in all aspects of performing a biopsy. The positive feedback received from the course attendees combined with the improved confidence levels demonstrates how biopsy training for new OMFS DCTs can have a positive impact on trainees and ultimately the patients treated.