Oral cancer knowledge, attitudes, and practices among dentists in Khartoum State, Sudan

The dental professions hold an important responsibility in the control of oral cancer and the early diagnosis highly depends on their knowledge. The present study was developed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dentists in Khartoum State regarding oral cancer prevention and early detection. An administered questionnaire was structured and sent to all licensed 130 dentists working in public dental clinics in Khartoum State. Responses to the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Although the majority of the dentists were knowledgeable about the major risk factors of oral cancer, more than half of the dentists reported they do not carry out any special examination to detect oral cancer in age 40 and above in asymptomatic patients. Dentists indicated their lack of training as the main barrier for conducting a comprehensive oral cancer examination. Interestingly, the vast majority of the dentists express their interest to have further oral cancer educational and training sessions. The findings of the present study suggested strongly that educational and training interventions are necessary to enhance preventive measures which may lead to reduce mortality and morbidity from oral cancer

Infektionsprävention: Wissen und Compliance bei Studenten der Zahnmedizin

Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding infection control procedures among undergraduate dental students. Methods: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of questions on students' vaccination status as well as knowledge and attitudes regarding infection control was sent to 600 undergraduate dental students in the fourth, fifth, and sixth year of the Al-Farabi College for Dentistry and Nursing, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. The significance level was set at P <0.05. Results: The response rate was 85% (512 out of 600). While the vast majority of students (90%) had been vaccinated against hepatitis, only 37.4% have been assessed for anti-HBs. A total of 98.8% and 90.8% reported always wearing gloves and masks, respectively, during dental procedures. The use of protective eyewear was reported by only 29.2%. A significantly higher proportion of sixth-year students showed a positive attitude toward the treatment of patients with infectious diseases than other students of lower academic years. Approximately one-third of students reported having one or more occupational injuries while treating their patients. Conclusion: Although the students had good knowledge and attitudes regarding infection control, the compliance and practice levels regarding the same were low. Such findings highlight the necessity of continued infection-control education of Saudi dental students.Zielsetzung: In der Studie sollten die Kenntnisse, die Einstellung und die praktische Umsetzung infektionspräventiver Maßnahmen bei Studenten der Zahnmedizin analysiert werden.Methode: In einer Querschnittsstudie wurde ein selbst zu beantwortender Fragebogen zur Erfassung des Impfstatus, der Kenntnisse und der Einstellung zur Infektionsprävention an 600 Studenten im 4., 5. und 6. Ausbildungsjahr des Al-Farabi College für Dentistry und Nursing, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, verschickt. Die Daten wurden mittels SPSS analysiert. Das Signifikanzniveau wurde mit p<0,05 festgelegt.Ergebnisse: Die Responserate betrug 85% (512 von 600). Während die Mehrzahl der Studenten (90%) gegen Hepatitis B geimpft war, war nur bei 37,4% anti-HBs bestimmt worden. 98,8% bzw. 90,8% trugen stets Schutzhandschuhe bzw. Mund-Nasen-Schutz bei der zahnärztlichen Behandlung, während das Tragen einer Schutzbrille nur in 29,2% angegeben wurde. Ein signifikant höherer Anteil der Studenten zeigte im 6. Ausbildungsjahr eine positive Einstellung zur Behandlung von Patienten mit Infektionskrankheiten im Vergleich zum 4. und 5. Ausbildungsjahr. Etwa ein Drittel der Studenten gab an, dass sich ein oder mehrere arbeitsbedingte Verletzungen bei der Patientenbehandlung ereignet hatten.Schlussfolgerung: Obwohl die Studenten ein solides Wissen und eine gute Einstellung zur Infektionsprävention hatten, war die Compliance zur praktischen Umsetzung gering. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit der kontinuierlichen Erziehung Saudischer Zahnmedizinstudenten zur Infektionsprävention