Abstract
Objective: To investigate students’ opinion about theoretical and clinical training in
local anaesthesia at different European dental schools.
Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was designed to collect information about
local anaesthesia teaching. Students’ opinion was quantified with five-point Likert
scales. The web-based questionnaire was distributed through European Dental Students
Association contacts amongst students of 25 different dental schools. Eight hundred
and eighteen completed questionnaires from students of 12 dental schools were analyzed
statistically.
Results: Dental schools showed a wide variation in the beginning of the theoretical teaching
of local anaesthesia and the practical teaching. A preclinical training model was used
by a small number of students, but these students found it a useful preparation. Many
students felt insufficiently prepared when they administered their first injection in a
human (17-81%). In dental schools from the UK, Ireland, Sweden and the Netherlands,
this first injection is administered to a fellow dental student, whilst in the other countries
the first injection is usually performed in a patient. Instruction in mandibular block anaesthesiawas frequently reported (81-100%) as well as in infiltration anaesthesia of the upperand lower jaws (78-100% and 30-93% respectively). Many students expressed that theylike to receive teaching in intraligamentary anaesthesia (13-70%). Other changes in the curriculum were also frequently suggested (33-100%), especially the introduction of preclinical training models and practical teaching earlier in the curriculum.
Conclusion: Local anaesthesia teaching programmes and the rating of this teaching
by dental students show a considerable variation across European dental schools. Studentsconsidered better preparation highly desirable. The variability in programmes
may have implications for mobility of students between European dental schools.
local anaesthesia at different European dental schools.
Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was designed to collect information about
local anaesthesia teaching. Students’ opinion was quantified with five-point Likert
scales. The web-based questionnaire was distributed through European Dental Students
Association contacts amongst students of 25 different dental schools. Eight hundred
and eighteen completed questionnaires from students of 12 dental schools were analyzed
statistically.
Results: Dental schools showed a wide variation in the beginning of the theoretical teaching
of local anaesthesia and the practical teaching. A preclinical training model was used
by a small number of students, but these students found it a useful preparation. Many
students felt insufficiently prepared when they administered their first injection in a
human (17-81%). In dental schools from the UK, Ireland, Sweden and the Netherlands,
this first injection is administered to a fellow dental student, whilst in the other countries
the first injection is usually performed in a patient. Instruction in mandibular block anaesthesiawas frequently reported (81-100%) as well as in infiltration anaesthesia of the upperand lower jaws (78-100% and 30-93% respectively). Many students expressed that theylike to receive teaching in intraligamentary anaesthesia (13-70%). Other changes in the curriculum were also frequently suggested (33-100%), especially the introduction of preclinical training models and practical teaching earlier in the curriculum.
Conclusion: Local anaesthesia teaching programmes and the rating of this teaching
by dental students show a considerable variation across European dental schools. Studentsconsidered better preparation highly desirable. The variability in programmes
may have implications for mobility of students between European dental schools.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 47-52 |
| Journal | European journal of dental education |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |