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   2014| January-June  | Volume 4 | Issue 1  
    Online since October 17, 2014

 
 
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ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Effectiveness of study skills on academic performance of dental students
Smitha S Shetty, Samuel Raj Srinivasan
January-June 2014, 4(1):28-31
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.143175  
Introduction: Study skills are important for better academic performance. Our study provides the view of the various skills of studying adopted by the dental students and its association with their performance in the Oral Biology subject in university examination. Material and Methods: A total of 137 students from Faculty of Dentistry, MMMC, Manipal, India participated in the study. A questionnaire consisting of 23 items assessing the study skills and distractions. The responses from the students were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale and the data were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: The response rate was 100%. A significant association (P < 0.05) between the students' performance in the subject of Oral Biology in university examination (average of >75% versus <75% marks) and study skills was seen in 6 of 23 questionnaires. The students with high exam scores often showed higher percentage of use of various study skills compared to the students with lower exam scores. Conclusion: The study techniques used by students are beneficial but not all are effective. Hence the students should be informed of the more effective method of studying.
  9,073 536 -
REVIEW ARTICLE
Measurements of Halitosis: Merits and demerits of various techniques
K Malathi, S Garg, D Sable
January-June 2014, 4(1):1-3
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.143145  
"Bad breath" (1550BC Ebers Papyrus) has been recorded in the literature for thousands of years and has only come to the force, as it can be a significant social handicap in sophisticated world. Modern literature on bad breath dates back to a monograph published in the 19th century itself. Prevalence is unclear, assessment is difficult and treatment strategies to control oral malodor are primarily directed at reduction of total bacterial counts in the oral cavity. In the present article, we would like to discuss the merits and demerits of different instruments used to measure halitosis.
  5,891 429 -
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Introduction of objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) in dental education in India in the subject of oral medicine and radiology
Rahul Bhowate, Arati Panchbhai, Sunita Vagha, Suresh Tankhiwale
January-June 2014, 4(1):23-27
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.143169  
Objectives: The learning-assessment relationship is an integral part of educational process, its main purpose is to optimize learner`s abilities which can be achieved through the implementation of Objective Structured Clinical Examination as an assessment tool. The present study is undertaken with the aim to introduce an Objective Structured Clinical Examination in the faculty of dentistry for the subject of oral medicine and radiology and to obtain the perception of participants about it. Materials and Methods: The study involved 65 final year dental students and faculties from Oral Medicine and Radiology. The self-administered questionnaire and feedback forms were given to the students to record their responses. Descriptive analysis and factor analysis were used to identify key factor among the different Objective Structured Clinical Examination items. Results: The results revealed the strong consensus in favor of Objective Structured Clinical Examination. The factor analysis extracted 2 key components i.e. "I understand the aims and objectives of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination" and "it tested my diagnostic clinical skill" as significant. Conclusion: The present article suggests that inclusion of Objective Structured Clinical Examination in the formative and summative examination would be beneficial. It is recommended that the pilot study should be carried out for the selected model of objective structured clinical examination before being implemented as an assessment tool.
  5,857 430 -
Evaluation of dental photography among dental professionals
Sridhar Padala Reddy, Bina Kashyap, Sankaran Sudhakar, Jagdish Raj Guru, Parimi Nalini
January-June 2014, 4(1):4-7
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.143147  
Background: Photography often represents the best method to collect and preserve evidences. The attention towards the advanced photographic presentation in dentistry has increased significantly over the past several decades. Advancements in technology, computers, the internet, and communication systems have greatly affected and shaped modern society. Aims and objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the awareness of digital photography among randomly selected academicians, practioners and both academicians and practioners. Materials and Methods: 250 dentists were included in the study and each was given a set of questionnaires. All the answers were marked as positive and negative and the data were tabulated and statistically analyzed. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the positive and negative responses were 6.18 ± 1.33 and among the subjects; the practioners showed the highest positive response of 100%. Conclusion: Combining a passion for photography with a dedication to dentistry leads to successfully record patient cases so as to have a better proposition in teaching, motivation, treatment and follow up.
  5,170 570 -
Attitude and perception of undergraduate dental students toward endodontics as a specialty in India
Neeta Shetty, M Kundabala, Ramya Shenoy
January-June 2014, 4(1):8-11
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.143148  
Introduction: Students' attitude toward choosing a specialty subject for post graduate studies is of great importance for the education system. Aim: To evaluate the dental students' perception and attitude toward learning, in rendering treatment, choosing endodontics as a specialty for post-graduation. Materials and Methods: A semi structured questionnaire study survey consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions was compiled and distributed among 400 undergraduate dental clinical students. The main domains appraised were preclinical and clinical training in endodontics, their opinion and interest in endodontics as post-graduate specialty. One sample chi-square test was done to see the association of subject response toward endodontic as a specialty response to each question. Results: The response rate was 74.5%, the results showed 72% of the students preferred preclinical training on extracted human teeth. 71% of the students believed that intense preclinical training will help them to manage patients confidently. Conclusion: The principal conclusion of the study revealed that majority of the students find endodontics an interesting subject to study and they would opt for endodontics as a postgraduate specialty subject.
  4,871 505 -
Knowledge and attitudes on early childhood oral health among medical and dental graduate students
Kumar Raja Gaddam, Sivakumar Nuvvula, Saipriya Pala, Rekhalakshmi Kamatham
January-June 2014, 4(1):18-22
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.143159  
Introduction: Primary health care providers have an opportunity to motivate and improve the oral health of children. Hence, the objective of the present study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical and dental graduate students on early childhood oral health (ECOH). Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among medical and dental graduate students to assess the knowledge and attitudes on ECOH through the questionnaire. The data were analyzed using chi-square analysis and Newman-Keuls post hoc procedure, with level of significance set at 0.05. Results: All the students who were present for a lecture session responded for the questionnaire, majority of them were females (68.50%). Final year dental students had better knowledge than first year dental and medical students (P < 0.01). Majority of students thought textbooks are the primary source of information and mass media would be better source to gain knowledge about ECOH (54.52%). Majority of dental students showed enthusiasm to learn about ECOH. Conclusion: Knowledge on ECOH among medical students was inadequate, who also lack enthusiasm for better understanding on ECOH, compared to dental students. Mass media would be a better means of imparting knowledge on ECOH.
  4,520 510 -
A study of examiner variability in assessment of preclinical class II amalgam preparation
I Anand Sherwood, Gail V.A. Douglas
January-June 2014, 4(1):12-17
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.143150  
Introduction: Training in typodont preclinical restorative exercises is one of the ways by which the required manual skill dexterity could be developed in students. The assessment of these exercises has been associated with inter and intra examiner variability. This study was undertaken to examine whether introduction of objective scoring criteria can reduce the examiner variability and evaluate for inter and intra examiner variability in assessing class II amalgam tooth preparation by using two different methods i.e., glance and grade and objective checklist criteria scoring. Materials and Methods: The study evaluated 41 undergraduate students performing two Class II disto-occlusal amalgam preparations performed on plastic typodont left lower and upper first molars. The preparations were evaluated by four blinded independent examiners using two methods viz., glance and grade and objective checklist scoring methods. Statistical analysis for inter and intra examiner variability was tested using Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed rank test, respectively. Results: Results of this study show that intra-examiner variability was significantly reduced with objective checklist criteria scoring. The inter-examiner variability was present both in a glance and grading method and objective checklist scoring method. Conclusion: This study concludes by recommending that preclinical operative work of students be assessed by objective checklist criteria scoring and it should be introduced after sufficient training and calibration sessions to reduce examiner variability.
  4,309 356 -
Impact of gender on attitude toward student-to-student local anesthesia administration
Navaneetha Cugati, Ramesh Kumaresan, Balamanikanda Srinivasan
January-June 2014, 4(1):32-37
DOI:10.4103/0974-7761.143181  
Introduction: In the undergraduate dental curriculum, student-to-student administration of first local anesthetic injection remains to be a traditional method in most of the dental institutions. This exercise is often foreseen by heterogeneous emotional responses both in student operator and respondent. Aim: This study evaluated the variations in attitude toward student-to-student LA administration and the associated anxiety levels among the genders. Materials and Methods: 40 female and 24 male preclinical dental students were provided with a questionnaire, containing statements of agreement. The experience and opinion throughout the procedure of first LA mandibular block administration was scored by the students using five-point Likert's scale and their anxiety levels were measured with 'interval scale of anxiety response' (ISAR) before, during and after administration of LA. The results were tested with Chi-Square test and Mann-Whitney test was used to know the significance of gender variation. Result: The perception of the operators as well as the recipient on mandibular anesthetic block injection analyzed by chi-square test showed significant values (P < 0.05) for all the statements. However, the gender variation performed by means of Mann-Whitney test demonstrated no significant statistical results. The anxiety evaluation using Mann-Whitney test showed significant variation among the genders both as an operator and respondent, except for the anxiety level of the operator after the injection procedure. Conclusion: This study illustrated the preparedness of the preclinical students for their first local anesthetic injections on humans and suggests for the required modification in the existing dental curriculum for a better training
  3,722 308 -
JOURNAL REVIEWS
Teaching ethics
M Preethi
January-June 2014, 4(1):38-39
  2,847 285 -
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