Perceived confidence and experience in oral surgery among final year undergraduate students in a UK dental school

摘要

Objectives A survey was undertaken to assess oral surgery confidence levels of final year dental students in the largest dental school in the UK. Low confidence levels post qualification are perceived to result in increased referrals to secondary care which has a cost impact on the National Health Service and inconvenience to patients. Methods A paper questionnaire was distributed to 150 final year dental students at King's College London one month before qualification in 2015. Information was obtained on oral surgery quotas, scenario-based questions and confidence levels for procedures including raising a flap, sectioning a tooth and suturing. Results The response rate of completed questionnaires was 71% (107/150). Eighty-four percent of students had carried out between 50-79 extractions during their undergraduate years, and 47% had performed 10-19 surgical extractions. Seventy-five percent felt they had adequate undergraduate oral surgery experience. There were no gender differences in confidence levels. The mean numbers of surgical extractions were comparable between students who had expressed high, average or low confidence levels in raising a flap, sectioning a tooth and suturing. Conclusion This study suggests there is poor correlation between oral surgery confidence levels and numbers of extractions carried out during undergraduate years. However, individuals' confidence can be variable.