Comparison of the level of practical knowledge of dental students in diagnosing and determining the treatment plan of periodontal patients

Abstract

Klasifikacijom iz 2017. godine zadani su jasni kriteriji i parametri koji olakšavaju obradu parodontoloških pacijenata. Pravovremena točna dijagnoza i prevencija razvoja parodontnih bolesti značajno smanjuju ireverzibilne posljedice kao što je propadanja potpornog tkiva zuba. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je procijeniti razinu praktičnih znanja studenata iz parodontologije i usporediti izbor terapije kroz prikaz četiriju parodontoloških slučajeva u anketnom upitniku. Istraživanje je provedeno putem Google obrasca u ljetnom semestru 2021./2022. godine, a sudjelovalo je 85 studenata 5. i 6. godine Stomatološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Studenti 6. godine studija pokazali su statistički značajno bolje rezultate (p<0,001) prilikom dijagnosticiranja parodontitisa stadija II i III te u sveukupnom znanju. Nije bilo statistički značajne razlike u znanju među spolovima (p>0,05). Studenti koji su izrazili zadovoljstvo stečenim znanjem iz parodontologije na studiju pokazali su bolje znanje u anketi (p<0,05). Najmanje točnih klasifikacija zabilježeno je u slučaju blažih oblika bolesti kao što je gingivitis i parodontitis stadija I. Veće kliničko iskustvo i dodatna daljnja edukacija doprinijet će boljem praktičnom znanju studenata i ubrzati donošenje odabira terapije, ali je potrebno približiti mišljenja prilikom odlučivanja o ispravnom terapijskom postupku.The 2017 classification set clear criteria and parameters that facilitate the treatment of periodontitis patients. Timely accurate diagnosis and prevention of the periodontal disease development significantly reduces irreversible consequences such as the tooth supporting deterioration tissues. The aim of this research was to assess the level of students´ practical knowledge in periodontology and to compare the choice of therapy through the presentation of 4 periodontal cases through the survey. The research was conducted via Google Forms digital tool during the summer semester of 2021/2022. 85 5th and 6th year students of the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, participated. Students in the 6th year of study statistically showed significantly better results (p <0.001) when diagnosing stage II and III periodontitis and subject knowledge in general. There was statistically no significant difference in knowledge between the sexes (p> 0.05). Students who expressed satisfaction with the acquired knowledge of periodontology in the study, showed better knowledge in the survey (p <0.05). The least accurate classifications have been reported regarding the milder forms of disease such as gingivitis and stage I periodontitis. Greater clinical experience and additional further education will contribute to better practical knowledge of students and speed up the selection of therapy, but it is necessary to converge opinions when deciding the correct therapeutic procedure