فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

AIM: This study was intended to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes regarding infant’s oral healthcare among graduating medical students from Kulasekaram, Tamil Nadu.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey research design was employed in thisstudy. Self-administered questionnaire of the validated “Graduating medical students’ Knowledge andAttitudes Survey Regarding Infant’s oral health care” were utilized to ascertain the baseline levels ofknowledge and attitudes of graduating medical students’ in Kulasekaram hospital. In this regard, apreliminary study with a convenience sample of 100 medical students was conducted so as to assessthe knowledge of infant oral health care among graduating medical students in Kulasekaram. Thisstudy, while limited in sample size, benefits the general practitioners as target readers to assess theabnormalities in children at early stages of life.RESULTS: The results of the study revealed that the mean percentage score overall was 65.7%.Only 3.2% of participants obtained a passing score of 80% or greater. Widespread knowledge deficitsand poor attitudes among graduating medical students were noted in this study, particularly in thedomain of pharmacological management of pain. Positive correlations were observed between therespondents’ score and level of education. Further analysis revealed respondents had an inaccurateself-evaluation of their pain management knowledge.CONCLUSION: The results of this study reveal that there is dearth of knowledge and attitudes ofgraduating medical students’ regarding infant oral health care. Educational and quality improvementinitiatives in oral health care of infants could enhance medical student’s knowledge baseline in thearea of oral health care and possibly improve practices.