Oral medicine course offer in general medical students

Physicians should have reasonable information about diagnosis and treatment of oral disease, because in addition to dentists, they are involved with diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases. According to Osler research in medical studies, importantce of oral health has been neglected and it is just considered in clinical examination. One of the dentistry post graduation fields which is in close relation to teaching and practice with medical science is oral medicine and could be a reliable source to cooperation of medical and dental societies. The aim of this study is the explanation of necessity of oral medicine course in general medical students training curriculums'. In this cross-sectional comparative study knowledge and diagnostic skills of 140 dental students and medical interns of Mashhad Medical University were assessed. Data gathering tools in this research was an illustrated questionnair. The average age of subjects was 25/41. Of 140 subjects, the least score of knowledge was1/25 and the maximum score was 3/75. The least score in diagnostic skill was 0.36and the maximum score was 4. Among Dental students, the average of knowledge score was: 3/18 and the average of diagnostic skill score was: 2/94. There was no significant relationship between age/gender of the two groups, and also there was no relation of this parameter with knowledge and diagnostic skill score. Among medical students, the average of diagnostic skill score was: 1/73 and the average of knowledge score was: 3/05. There was no significant difference between the two group regarding knowledge score but the difference was significant in diagnostic skill, dental student had better results in diagnostic skill significantly. Knowledge and diagnostic skill were lower than acceptable rate so it is recommended to add oral medicine course to medical educational curriculum. Education developing of this field for all clinicians who involved with oral disease is recommended.