محمدرضا خامی

The high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among dental clients requires sufficient knowledge in this regard. For this purpose, we aimed to develop a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess the awareness of cardiovascular diseases among final year dental students.

After designing 38 questions, four areas were identified and to determine the validity, 7 specialists from the departments of Community Oral Health (2 people), Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases (2 people), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (2 people) and Cardiologist (n=1) evaluated the validity indicators and then to measure the reliability. The final form was distributed among 24 senior year dental students two weeks apart using the test-retest method and kappa statistics were calculated.

To determine the total validity of the instrument, the S-CVI value of the general agreement approach was 94.73% and in the mean approach was 87.84%. Also, the I-CVI values ​​of each question were above 0.70. Finally, out of the first 38 questions, 4 questions were removed due to lack of simplicity and the kappa coefficient of the remaining 34 questions, except for three questions, was obtained above 0.61, the middle of the total kappa coefficient was equal to 0.77.

With regard to desirable validity and reliability indices, it seems that this questionnaire is a useful tool to assess the awareness of dental students about cardiovascular diseases.

Due to high mortality rate and cost of smoking, WHO has emphasized on the role of dentists in smoking cessation among patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the dental students, knowledge toward health consequences of smoking, their attitude towards smoking cessation activities, and their education programs in this field.

In this cross-sectional study, the target group was senior dental students at Tehran and Shahid Beheshti Universities of Medical Sciences, and Azad and Shahed Universities. A questionnaire was used to collect data in addition to background information, on the knowledge, attitudes, and education towards tobacco cessation counseling in dental practice was administered to the students. The sampling method was census. Data were analyzed using oneway Anova followed by Turkey HSD post-hoc test for pairwise comparison.

Overall 138 students participated in this program (The response rate was 100%). Of the maximum achievable knowledge score (28), the average knowledge score in Tehran University was 22.8, in Shahid Beheshti University 20.31, in Azad University 22.31, and in Shahed University 22.16 (P=0.027) with significant statistical differences. However, But the average of attitude and education score of the students did not vary significantly (P>0.05).

Most of the students had sufficient knowledge about the risks of tobacco use and positive attitude toward tobacco cessation counseling. It was concluded that the students would only pay attention to the principals of smoking cessation counselling when they actually believe in them. Therefore, in order to improve the performance of students, training should be given on tobacco cessation techniques at the dental schools, thus, that students could play an effective role in tobacco cessation counseling for patients.

Opinion of students regarding the content, structure and quality of their training is a fundamental part of holistic evaluation of curriculum, and serves as an important information resource in policy making. In the present study, we aimed to contribute to the development, assessment and evaluation of the new national dental curriculum through evaluation of last-year dental students’ opinions regarding undergraduate dental curriculum.
This cross sectional questionnaire survey was done in 2010-2011 academic year. The target population was last-year dental students in 15 Iranian state dental schools. In these schools, all last-year dental students were invited to participate in the study. The chi-square test served for statistical analyses.
In total, 432 students (68.4% female) participated in the study. Of the respondents, 72.4% (60.7% of male and 77.6% of female, P=0.001) believed that their undergraduate dental training had been completely inadequate or inadequate. Only about one third of students believed that educational methods during their undergraduate dental training had been appropriate or completely appropriate.
In general, it seems that undergraduate dental training from students’ view point has not been appropriate in terms of both content and method. The results show the necessity of revision of national undergraduate dental curriculum.

Regarding to importance of prevention in current dentistry and considerable role of dentists’ attitude and practice in this area, the aim of the present study was investigation of knowledge, attitude, practice, and self-reported competency of Iranian dental students towards preventive dentistry in 2015.
Of all Iranian state dental schools, six were selected by stratified random sampling. All the dental students (n = 252) were asked to voluntarily complete a standard anonymous question naire containing background information, oral self-care, knowledge, attitude, practice, and self-reported competency towards preventive dentistry.
A total of207 participants (response rate of 82.1%) completed the questionnaire of whom 118 respondents (57%) were women. Women reported significantly higher frequencies of flossing (p = 0.02) and lower frequencies of eating sugary snacks (p=0.03) compared with men. Students who their mothers had an academic education reported higher frequencies of flossing (p=0.03), tooth brushing (p=0.03), respecting EBOSC (p=0.03) and had the highest practices cores towards preventive dentistry (p=0.009). A higher score on preventive practice among the students was associated with their positive attitudes (p=0.005) and self-perceived competency (p=0.05) towards prevention.
Despite some favorable changes in dental education, preventive dentistry has not found its real position among dental students yet. Appropriate programming is necessary to promote present situation among dental students.

Early experiences in clinical environment are emphasized by researchers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate early deal program with clinical environment for the first year dental students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In this descriptive-analytical study, 140 first-semester Dentistry students of Dentistry Faculty of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in two consecutive years 2011-12 and 2012-13 were examined using census sampling of which 74 students were students of the October 2011 (group I) and 66 students were students of the October 2012 (Group II). Data were collected using a self-administered researcher-made questionnaire with Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.82. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18 software using descriptive statistics and Chi-square and Independent-T tests. 59 (79.7%) in the first group and 60 patients (90.9%) in the second group announced this program useful and very useful in initial recognition of dentistry, 58 (78.4%) in the first group and 55 patients (83.3%) in the second group announced it useful and very useful in clarifying of motivation of dentistry choose. The standard score of visit efficacy from clinical sections was significantly higher than non-clinical sections in both groups. Professional behavior and medical ethics and prevention were of important discussed issues. Early deal with clinical environment courses affects basic awareness of dentistry students and clarifying their motivation and from students’ view presence in clinical sections is more suitable than the other sections.

Tobacco kills 5 million people worldwide annually, according to the Health Ministry reaches this number is about 70,000 people a year in Iran. Dental professionals are in a unique position to promote smoking cessation due to the opportunity for regular interaction with their patients. The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and skills of dental students at Tehran and Shahid Beheshti dental schools towards tobacco cessation counseling in dental office. In this cross-sectional study, the target group was dental students at Tehran and Shahid Beheshti dental schools, and the sampling method was census. A questionnaire on the knowledge, attitudes, and skills towards tobacco cessation counseling in dental practice was administered to the students (n=93). Data were analyzed using T-test. The response rate was 100% (93 students participate in this program and all of them filled the questionnaire). The average score of knowledge at Tehran and Shahid Beheshti dental schools was 17.5 and 18.4, respectively (P=0.09), the average score of attitudes was 33.5 and 33.1, respectively (P=0.80). There were no significant differences between the two dental schools in these parts. The average score of skill was 11.9 and 16.6, respectively. The differences between the students of two dental schools in skill were significant (P=0.002). Although the attitude of dental students at Tehran and Shahid Beheshti schools towards tobacco cessation counseling seemed to be fair, some deficiencies existed in their knowledge and skill. Dental education programs should be implemented properly in this field.

Iatrogenic damage to adjacent tooth during proximal cavity preparation is one of the most common side effects in operative dentistry. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of iatrogenic damages to adjacent tooth during the preparation of proximal Class II cavities among undergraduate students at dental faculty of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2010. 106 posterior permanent teeth which had Class II decay with sound proximal surfaces of adjacent teeth were selected and restored by dental students awarding the aims of the present study. After finishing restoration، proximal surfaces were completely dried by air and evaluated with dental chair light. In doubtful cases، surfaces were evaluated with × 3 magnification. Damages were classified into 2 groups; abrasion and groove. Data were analyzed using Fishers exact and Pearson chi square tests. The frequency of adjacent surfaces damage were 57. 5%، with 31. 1% damages as abrasion and 26. 4% as groove. Students who used matrix band and wedge in proximal area as preventive instruments showed 53. 4% damages and other students showed 57. 3% damages (P>0. 05). A significantly higher number of females and students at restorative course level (3) used wedge and matrix band than males and students at restorative course level (4) for protecting adjacent teeth (P<0. 05). According to the high percentage of iatrogenic damages on adjacent sound teeth in class II cavity preparation، teaching of preventive methods and using proper techniques is necessary for dental students as future dentists.

Internal evaluation demonstrates the justification of the members of each group about their practical procedures and the rate of aims achievement and is an opportunity for its quality improvement. The aim of this study was internal evaluation of the Oral Health & Community Dentistry Department of Tehran University of Medical sciences. Present cross-sectional study was carried out، in Oral Health & Community Dentistry Department of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2008 and the group manager، internal evaluation committee staffs، faculty members، students’ in field education personnel and managers and some alumni members were selected for study. Each group’s questionnaire was designed in 10 fields of purposes and aims، organizational and management structure، faculty members، educational courses and curriculum، teaching and learning process، educational and research equipment، educational fields of students in society، students، research and alumni. Data was analyzed by SPSS 11. 5 statistical software and Chi Squar and ANOVA tests. The weakest point of Oral Health & Community Dentistry Department was “Low experience and lack of a suitable model for the establishment of the group in Iran”، the strongest point was “presence of young and interested faculty members”، the most threatening point was “limited financial resources of the group” and the most important opportunity was “active participation of group members in activities”. The status of Oral Health & Community Dentistry Department was nearly good in all 10 studied fields.

Evidence-based dentistry is an approach to oral health that requires a reasonable combination of scientific evidence with the dentists’ diagnostic and clinical practice as well as patients’ needs and treatment priorities. The aim of this study was evaluation of awareness، attitudes and self- assessed knowledge of dentistry students about EBD in governmental universities in Tehran. Subjects included junior students of dentistry studying in Tehran and Shahid Beheshti Universities of Medical Sciences. Sixty-five subjects were evaluated، among which 85% answered the questionnaire. Questionnaires were distributed to the students before and after their courses to evaluate student’s awareness، attitude and self- assessment knowledge. Chi- square and T- test were used to analyze the results. Totally 80% of students had a fair or poor awareness about EBD. Almost، all the students had a correct attitude about EBD and 80% had a correct attitude about the steps. The mean male student’s knowledge was significantly higher than that of female counterparts. Also، there was a significantly positive correlation between student’s knowledge score and self- assessed knowledge about EBD. Despite good attitudes about EBD، there is a deficiency in student’s knowledge، so an appropriate plan is suggested to resolve this problem.

The present study aimed to evaluate the barriers to the production of scientific dental articles in dental schools in Iran based on the opinions of dental postgraduate students. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among postgraduate students of all Iranian dental schools in June 2010. The respondents rated their agreement with eight sentences about what hinder them from producing scientific dental articles based on a 5-grade Likert scale. The data were analyzed usingChi-square test. Totally, 270 filled questionnaires from 14 dental schools were received. Of all respondents, 53% were male, the mean age were 29.6 ± 3.8. About half of the respondents reported at least one published article. Less than half of the respondents reported producing an article from undergraduate thesis; more women than men and more younger than older students (P<0.03). About two-third of the respondents rated absence of an English editing center, no financial incentives, no appropriate environment, and no competency for scientific writing as most prevalent barriers to the production of scientific dental articles. To expand the share of Iran in the production of scientific dental documents, the potential of postgraduate dental students must be regarded and suitable condition for scientific writing must be provided. Specifically, based on the findings of the present study, provision of an English editing facility, establishing financial incentives, and providing the students with appropriate environment and efficient scientific writing education are of utmost importance.

The aim of the present study was to investigate self-perceived need to learn practice management and self reported knowledge in this regard among dentists. A group of five academic staff members of Community Oral Health Department (Tehran Dental School) and four dentists formed an expert panel to develop the content of the course. This group developed a list of topics related to principles of successful dental practice. To investigate the necessity of educating the topics and self-assessed knowledge of the topics, a questionnaire was designed and administered to 55 volunteer dentists. Forty six dentists completed the questionnaire. T-test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analyses. Totally more than two-third of the dentists believed that a huge need exists for education of all the topics. The corresponded figure for such topics as ergonomics and medical emergencies was about 90%. About 80% of the dentists felt that they had a vast knowledge of safety and infection control. On the other hand, 54.3% of them reported weak knowledge regarding professional rules and regulations. Self-reported educational need and knowledge of the dentists did not show significant association with their age, gender, and work experience(P>0.05). The dentists believed in the necessity of educating such topics and evaluated their knowledge as deficient in these areas. This shows the necessity of developing courses on these topics.

Effectiveness of oral health promotion programs requires presence of knowledgeable and prevention-oriented dental workforce. The aim of the present study was to investigate attitudes of dental students and its determinants in Tehran towards prevention based on Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire. A Farsi version of HU-DBI questionnaire was prepared, validated and administered to the pre-clinical and clinical students of three dental schools located in Tehran. Chi-square test and logistic regression model served for statistical analysis. In this cross-sectional study, two-hundred students participated. Women were less likely to agree with the statements "I have noticed some white sticky deposits on my teeth", and "I think I can clean my teeth well without using toothpaste" (P=0.04 and P=0.06, respectively), and more likely to agree with "I think that I cannot help having false teeth when I am old" compared to men (P=0.015). Differences related to the student's schools also existed in the student's reactions to the items "I have used a dye to see how clean my teeth are" and "I use a toothbrush which has hard bristles". Differences related to the students’ study year were also found in their attitudes towards prevention. Dental students’ prevention-oriented attitudes seem to be associated with their gender and study year. More emphasis should be placed on prevention in Iranian dental curriculum to overcome those differences in the student's attitudes which are related to background and academic characteristics.

The objective of the present study was to investigate knowledge and attitude of senior dental students towards HIV/AIDS. Its result could help in promotion of education. This educational research was carried out in two state dental schools in Tehran. The senior dental students in Tehran and Shaheed Beheshti dental schools were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire regarding their age, gender, parent's job, knowledge and attitudes towards treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS in Autumn semester 2007. Fifty five dental students (83%) including 27% male and 73% female in Shaheed Beheshti and fifty five dental students (85%) including 34% male and 66% female in Tehran dental schools were participated. The score for knowledge and attitude of the students were calculated separately. The data were analyzed using Independent sample t-test. The mean percentage of knowledge and attitude scores were 76.5% (at rang 1-3) and 50% (at range 1-5), respectively. Nearly all of the students believed that all patients should be considered as HIV positive in dental practice, while 49% preferred to refer HIV positive patients. Knowledge and attitude of students were not significantly associated with the gender and knowing HIV positive person (P>0.05). There is a need to improve knowledge and attitudes of dental students towards HIV/AIDS. It is suggested to emphasize on this subject in dental schools curriculum in Iran.

Nowadays, the attitudinal aspect of community dentistry course and the way in which this course is taught is critically important. The aim of this study is to compare the presentation of theoretical community dentistry course through workshops using PBL method with that of contemporary method of lecture. In this quasi experimental study, 64 dental students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences who took the course of community dentistry in second semester of academic year of 2006-2007 were entered into the survey through census. They were randomly allocated into two groups of experiment and control each including thirty two. The course of community dentistry was taught to control group through traditional method in 17 lecturing sessions meanwhile this course was instructed to experiment group through problem based learning method. A questionnaire was used for gathering data. Data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics and Chi². The improvement in attitude of PBL group was significant in contrast with that of traditional method group. In post-test, the mean score of knowledge and attitude of the group attending in workshop was higher than that of traditional group but the difference was not statistically significant. The mean score of satisfaction and transferring educational concepts was significantly higher in the group attending in workshop. Eighty one percent of the workshop attendees were satisfied with the method employed in the course. The new method of education has been successful in its achievements as forming a positive atti-tude in students and making them eager for community dentistry issues.