Abstract
Objective: To assess the clinical competence of undergraduate dental students in pediatric dentistry at Qassim University 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 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.
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dental caries is the most common noncommunicable disease worldwide [1]
Undergraduate dental education in pediatric dentistry has been suggested, by some reports, as a starting point to ensure that future general dentists receive sufficient educational and clinical experiences concerning the treatment of children [7,8]
Mean competency scores of the students in each clinical procedure and total score according to the academic level and gender of the students are shown in Table 5, while Figure 1 shows the percentage of competent students in each clinical procedure and total procedures according to the academic level
Summary
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dental caries is the most common noncommunicable disease worldwide [1]. Many of those affected children with dental caries will undergo disease progression, and that will subsequently affect the quality of life in these children. The chances of hospitalizations to have dental treatment under general anesthesia will perhaps increase [5]. This highlights a need for general dentists to address the problem of providing routine dental care for children, after considering that they are more available and accessible than specialist pediatric dentists to the public [6]. Undergraduate dental education in pediatric dentistry has been suggested, by some reports, as a starting point to ensure that future general dentists receive sufficient educational and clinical experiences concerning the treatment of children [7,8]
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