Knowledge and importance of oral health promotion for disabled children course at Tehran University of Medical Sciences: Senior dental student's perspectives

Minimal training of dental student increases the problems of disabled. The objective of the present study was to investigate knowledge of oral health promotion for disabled children, satisfaction from the course of “oral health promotion for disabled” and importance of embedding the related course among senior dental students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

In this cross sectional study, was asked the students to fill in a self-administered questionnaire regarding their age, gender, knowledge, satisfaction with training received in oral health promotion for disabled and importance of embedding the related course. Data were analyzed using SPSS version16 by linear regression model.

The mean percentage of knowledge scores was 62.3% (range 32.1 % to 92.8 %). Among the students, 1.7% were completely satisfied with related theoretical course and 5% with practical course. Satisfactions from theoretical and practical courses were not associated with the age and gender of students. Linear regression model showed those students with higher knowledge score to mentionhigher importance for embedding the course “oral health promotion for disabled” in their curriculum.

The students’ knowledge of oral health promotion toward disabled children was rarely poor. General dissatisfaction of dental students from the courses, showed necessity to enrich dental school curriculum on this subject.