Dental students’ knowledge of characteristics and management of oral complications of cancer therapy

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the level of Turkish senior dental students' knowledge regarding the orodental complications and their treatment methods of cancer patients. A 15-item questionnaire which was obtained from National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research that contained information about the orodental complications of the cancer therapy and the dentists' role to provide their treatment protocols was used. Seventy-seven senior dental students answered the questionnaire and the replies were analyzed with stratified and logistic data analyses. Overall, correct replies ranged from 5.2 to 98.7 %. The students knew the basic knowledge of the complications of cancer therapy; however, they failed to answer to the questions (ranging between 1.3 and 94.8 %) about the required clinical practices. The respondents preferred not to answer the questions about the prophylactic measures dentist shall take during a precancer treatment oral evaluation (9.1 %), management of pain in cancer treatment (6.5 %), and necessary considerations before a dental procedure in a chemotherapy patient (3.9 %). The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that gender had no statistically significant effect on the correct or false answers to the questions (p > 0.05). Our results disclosed that dental students' knowledge about oral complications of cancer therapy and the modalities to manage these complications vary. Reevaluation of current undergraduate curricula and continuing education for graduates might address the gaps identified and an educational program about oral and dental management of patients who are to receive/receiving/have received cancer therapy can be prepared and augmented into dental curriculum.