Self-confidence in oral and maxillofacial surgery: a cross-sectional study of undergraduate dental students at Kuwait University

Mohammad Kamal 1, Mohammad Abdulwahab 2

Affiliations

07 April 2021

-

doi: 10.1186/s12909-021-02614-x

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the self-confidence of undergraduate dental students in relation to oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) to assess the teaching curriculum at Kuwait University using a validated questionnaire originally developed by the Association of British Academic Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons (ABAOMS).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of sixth year (n = 20) and seventh year (n = 19) dentistry students was conducted by Kuwait University Faculty of Dentistry between the 1st and 15th of May 2020. The ABAOMS questionnaire is composed of 17 questions assessing various areas of the undergraduate OMFS curriculum. The response options to the questionnaire utilised a Likert scale. Independent sample t-tests were performed to assess the difference in responses between the 2 year groups. Spearman's rho correlations were calculated to measure the strength of association between confidence in all aspects of surgical and forceps exodontia.

Results: A total of 39 questionnaires were completed by the students. The majority of students expressed feelings of confidence that they have enough knowledge to undertake independent practice (61%). General aspects of the questionnaire were answered favourably except for surgical extraction of teeth, in which both classes reported a lower level of self-confidence.

Conclusions: The ABAOMS survey revealed the students' self-confidence in undertaking independent practice and preforming basic oral surgery procedures. Students felt comfortable with exodontia using forceps and elevators, root removal, managing acute pericoronitis, managing haemorrhage from a socket, assessing impacted teeth, and recognising the clinical features of potentially malignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity. They reported a lower level of confidence in performing surgical procedures.

Keywords: Dental students; Oral and maxillofacial surgery teaching; Oral surgery education; Self-confidence.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Similar articles

Level of Self-Perceived Knowledge Regarding Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Surgery among Dental Undergraduates and Graduates in Saudi Arabia.

Qamar Z, Almusa J, Almutairi K, Aloufi N, Albaiz S, Alharbi Y.Mymensingh Med J. 2022 Jul;31(3):835-840.PMID: 35780371

Students' perspectives on undergraduate oral surgery education.

Cabbar F, Burdurlu MÇ, Ozcakir Tomruk C, Bank B, Atalay B.BMC Med Educ. 2019 Jul 18;19(1):265. doi: 10.1186/s12909-019-1703-y.PMID: 31319829 Free PMC article.

A national survey of UK final year students' opinion of undergraduate oral surgery teaching.

Macluskey M, Durham J, Bell A, Cowpe J, Crean SJ, Dargue A, Dawson L, Freeman C, Jones J, McDouagh A, McHanwell S, Marley J, Myrddin L, Millsopp L, Oliver R, Renton T, Taylor K, Thomson P.Eur J Dent Educ. 2012 Feb;16(1):e205-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2011.00717.x. Epub 2011 Oct 28.PMID: 22251348

A city-wide survey of dental students' opinions on undergraduate oral surgery teaching.

Burdurlu MÇ, Cabbar F, Dağaşan V, Çukurova ZG, Doğanay Ö, Yalçin Ülker GM, Atalay B, Gönül O, Özçakır Tomruk C.Eur J Dent Educ. 2020 May;24(2):351-360. doi: 10.1111/eje.12506. Epub 2020 Feb 24.PMID: 32034986

Does the UK undergraduate medical curriculum prepare students in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery? A scoping review.

Soh TCF, Lim ZZ, Yip HM.Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020 Dec;58(10):1229-1234. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.06.005. Epub 2020 Jul 24.PMID: 32718749 Review.

References

  1.  
    1. Macluskey M, Durham J. Oral surgery undergraduate teaching and experience in the United Kingdom: a national survey. Eur J Dent Educ. 2009;13(1):52–57. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2008.00537.x. - DOI - PubMed
  2.  
    1. Macluskey M, Durham J, Cowan G, Cowpe J, Evans A, Freeman C, Jephcott A, Jones J, Millsopp L, Oliver R. UK national curriculum for undergraduate oral surgery subgroup for teaching of the association of British academic oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Eur J Dent Educ. 2008;12(1):48–58. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2007.00467.x. - DOI - PubMed
  3.  
    1. Wanigasooriya N. Student self-assessment of essential skills in dental surgery. Br Dent J. 2004;197(5):11–14. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4811680. - DOI - PubMed
  4.  
    1. Al-Dajani M. Dental students’ perceptions of undergraduate clinical training in oral and maxillofacial surgery in an integrated curriculum in Saudi Arabia. J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2015;12. 10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.45. - PMC - PubMed
  5.  
    1. Macluskey M, Hanson C, Kershaw A, Wight A, Ogden G. Development of a structured clinical operative test (SCOT) in the assessment of practical ability in the oral surgery undergraduate curriculum. Br Dent J. 2004;196(4):225–228. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4810989. - DOI - PubMed
  6.  
    1. Buck D, Malik S, Murphy N, Patel V, Singh S, Syed B, Vorah N. What makes a good dentist and do recent trainees make the grade? The views of vocational trainers. Br Dent J. 2000;189(10):563–566. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4800829. - DOI - PubMed
  7.  
    1. Macluskey M, Durham J, Bell A, Cowpe J, Crean SJ, Dargue A, Dawson L, Freeman C, Jones J, McDouagh A. A national survey of UK final year students’ opinion of undergraduate oral surgery teaching. Eur J Dent Educ. 2012;16(1):e205–e212. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2011.00717.x. - DOI - PubMed
  8.  
    1. Burdurlu MÇ, Cabbar F, Dagasan V, Çukurova ZG, Doğanay Ö, Ülker GMY, Atalay B, Gönül O, Tomruk CO: A city-wide survey of dental students’ opinions on undergraduate oral surgery teaching. Eur J Dent Educ 2020. - PubMed
  9.  
    1. Cabbar F, Burdurlu MÇ, Tomruk CO, Bank B, Atalay B. Students’ perspectives on undergraduate oral surgery education. BMC Med Educ. 2019;19(1):265. doi: 10.1186/s12909-019-1703-y. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
  10.  
    1. Macluskey M, Shepherd S, Carter E, Bulsara Y, Durham J, Bell A, Dargue A, Emanuel C, Freeman C, Jones J. A national follow-up survey of UK graduates opinion of undergraduate oral surgery teaching. Eur J Dent Educ. 2016;20(3):174–179. doi: 10.1111/eje.12158. - DOI - PubMed
  11.  
    1. Lee KC, Lee VY, Zubiaurre LA, Grbic JT, Eisig SB. Relationship between dental students’ pre-admission record and performance on the comprehensive basic science examination. J Dent Educ. 2018;82(4):424–428. doi: 10.21815/JDE.018.044. - DOI - PubMed
  12.  
    1. Brand H, Tan L, van der Spek S, Baart J. European dental students’ opinions on their local anaesthesia education. Eur J Dent Educ. 2011;15(1):47–52. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2010.00633.x. - DOI - PubMed
  13.  
    1. Henzi D, Davis E, Jasinevicius R, Hendricson W. North American dental students’ perspectives about their clinical education. J Dent Educ. 2006;70(4):361–377. doi: 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2006.70.4.tb04091.x. - DOI - PubMed
  14.  
    1. Henzi D, Davis E, Jasinevicius R, Hendricson W. In the students’ own words: what are the strengths and weaknesses of the dental school curriculum? J Dent Educ. 2007;71(5):632–645. doi: 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2007.71.5.tb04320.x. - DOI - PubMed
  15.  
    1. Shah S, Halai T, Patel J, Sproat C. Perceived confidence and experience in oral surgery among final year undergraduate students in a UK dental school. Br Dent J. 2018;224(3):177–182. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.41. - DOI - PubMed
  16.  
    1. Durham J, Moore U, Corbett I, Thomson P. Assessing competency in dentoalveolar surgery: a 3-year study of cumulative experience in the undergraduate curriculum. Eur J Dent Educ. 2007;11(4):200–207. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2007.00455.x. - DOI - PubMed
  17.  
    1. Thomas SJ, Atkinson C, Hughes C, Revington P, Ness AR. Is there an epidemic of admissions for surgical treatment of dental abscesses in the UK? BMJ. 2008;336(7655):1219–1220. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39549.605602.BE. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Page Navigation