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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2023 | Volume
: 10
| Issue : 1 | Page : 5-7 |
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A study to evaluate the self-confidence of undergraduate dental students in relation to oral and maxillofacial surgery to assess the teaching curriculum at Indian university
Sharath Kodlipet1, Rolson Sandeep Amana2, A Sudhakar3
1 Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Cranio and Maxillofacial Surgery, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
3 Prosthodontist and Implantologist, Dental Unit, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| Date of Submission | 13-Mar-2023 |
| Date of Acceptance | 20-Mar-2023 |
| Date of Web Publication | 31-Mar-2023 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Sharath Kodlipet
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/ijpcdr.ijpcdr_4_23
Background: Self-confidence is an essential attribute required for dental students to succeed in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS).
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the self-confidence levels of undergraduate dental students in India in relation to OMFS and assess the effectiveness of the teaching curriculum.
Materials and Methods: The study involved 100 undergraduate dental students from a university in India, and a self-confidence questionnaire was used to assess their confidence levels.
Results: The results showed that the self-confidence levels of the students were moderate, with most students reporting low levels of confidence in performing OMFS procedures.
Conclusions: The study concluded that there is a need for the university to review and update the OMFS teaching curriculum to improve the self-confidence of the students in this area.
Keywords: India, oral and maxillofacial surgery, self-confidence, teaching curriculum, undergraduate dental students
How to cite this article:
Kodlipet S, Amana RS, Sudhakar A. A study to evaluate the self-confidence of undergraduate dental students in relation to oral and maxillofacial surgery to assess the teaching curriculum at Indian university. Int J Prev Clin Dent Res 2023;10:5-7 |
How to cite this URL:
Kodlipet S, Amana RS, Sudhakar A. A study to evaluate the self-confidence of undergraduate dental students in relation to oral and maxillofacial surgery to assess the teaching curriculum at Indian university. Int J Prev Clin Dent Res [serial online] 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 10];10:5-7. Available from: https://www.ijpcdr.org/text.asp?2023/10/1/5/373360 |
| Introduction | |  |
Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) is a specialized field of dentistry that involves the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions, including facial trauma, deformities, infections, and tumors. OMFS procedures require advanced surgical skills and knowledge, and it is essential for dental students to develop self-confidence in this area to succeed in their careers. However, many dental students struggle with confidence when it comes to performing OMFS procedures, which can lead to a lack of proficiency and suboptimal patient outcomes.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5]
The teaching curriculum plays a vital role in shaping the confidence levels of dental students in OMFS. A well-designed curriculum should provide students with adequate knowledge and practical skills necessary to perform OMFS procedures with confidence.[6],[7],[8],[9],[10],[11] However, the effectiveness of the OMFS teaching curriculum in Indian universities has not been adequately evaluated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the self-confidence levels of undergraduate dental students in India in relation to OMFS and assess the effectiveness of the teaching curriculum.
| Materials and Methods | | |
This study involved 100 undergraduate dental students from a university in India, who had completed the OMFS course as a part of their curriculum. The students were selected randomly, and their participation was voluntary. A self-confidence questionnaire was used to assess the students' self-confidence levels in performing OMFS procedures. The questionnaire comprised 20 questions and was divided into two sections. The first section assessed the students' self-confidence levels in performing basic OMFS procedures, such as tooth extraction, biopsy, and suturing. The second section assessed their confidence levels in performing advanced OMFS procedures, such as orthognathic surgery, cleft lip, and palate repair, and facial trauma management.
The self-confidence questionnaire was administered to the students individually, and they were asked to rate their self-confidence levels on a Likert scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being not at all confident and 5 being very confident. All procedures performed in the study were conducted in accordance with the ethics standards given in 1964 Declaration of Helsinki, as revised in 2013. The study proposal was submitted for approval and clearance was obtained from the ethical committee of our institution. A written informed consent was obtained from each participant. The data obtained from the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as mean and standard deviation.
| Results | | |
The results of the study showed that the self-confidence levels of the undergraduate dental students in India in relation to OMFS were moderate. The mean score for basic OMFS procedures was 3.06, while the mean score for advanced OMFS procedures was 2.50. Male students had higher self-confidence levels than female students in both basic and advanced OMFS procedures. The mean score for male students in basic OMFS procedures was 3.19, while the mean score for female students was 2.92 as shown in [Figure 1]. Similarly, the mean score for male students in advanced OMFS procedures was 2.70, while the mean score for female students was 2.30.
| Discussion | | |
The results of this study show that undergraduate dental students in India have moderate self-confidence levels in performing OMFS procedures. The moderate self-confidence levels could be due to a lack of emphasis on practical training in the OMFS curriculum. The students may not be receiving sufficient hands-on experience, which is essential for developing self-confidence in performing surgical procedures.
The study also shows that male students have higher self-confidence levels than female students in performing OMFS procedures. This finding is consistent with previous studies that have shown that male dental students have higher levels of self-confidence than female students in various dental procedures. This gender disparity in self-confidence levels could be due to socialization and cultural factors, as males are often encouraged to be more assertive and confident than females.
It is essential to address the gender disparity in self-confidence levels and ensure that all students receive adequate training and support to develop self-confidence in performing OMFS procedures. The teaching curriculum should be reviewed and updated to include more practical training, which will give students the opportunity to develop their surgical skills and build self-confidence.
The findings of this study suggest that the OMFS teaching curriculum in Indian universities needs to be improved to provide students with the necessary knowledge and practical training to perform OMFS procedures confidently. It is recommended that the curriculum should be reviewed and updated to include more hands-on training and practical experience, which will help students build self-confidence in performing OMFS procedures.
| Conclusion | | |
This study has evaluated the self-confidence levels of undergraduate dental students in India in relation to OMFS and assessed the effectiveness of the teaching curriculum. The results show that the self-confidence levels of the students were moderate, and there was a gender disparity in self-confidence levels. The study concluded that there is a need for the university to review and update the OMFS teaching curriculum to improve the self-confidence of the students in this area.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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[Figure 1]
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