Objective:To evaluate dentists’ opinions about the need for a practice management course in the undergraduate dental program.Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 on practicing dentists in Lahore, Pakistan. A self-administered pilot-tested questionnaire was distributed among 588 dentists using a convenience sampling method to obtain their responses about the need for a practice management course. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.Results:About 83.8% of 588 dentists completed the questionnaires. There were 36.7% of males and 63.3% of females (mean age 26.22 ± 4.8 years). The principles of patient management (94.1%), time management skills (90.3%), and teamwork (89.2%) were the most commonly agreed topics of the practice management course. The least agreed topics included office design (59.2%), health-care systems (60.9%), and inventory systems (69%). Most participants (74.4%) thought that a practice management course is required to successfully manage a dental practice, and 63% recommended to include the course in the dental curriculum. Multivariate logistic regression showed that dentists working in private clinic (odds ratio (OR): 3.35, P = 0.001), dentists with graduation within ≤ past 5 years (OR: 3.64, P = 0.001), and dentists who attended a practice management course (OR: 3.12, P = 0.001) were more likely to agree to the need of a practice management course to successfully run a dental office.Conclusion:Most dentists believed that a practice management course is required for a successful dental practice. The development and implementation of such a course should be based on the feedback from dentists to ensure evidence-based approaches.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and practice about dentine hypersensitivity (DH) among dental practitioners. Materials and Methods A pilot-tested questionnaire was sent to practicing dentists (n = 588) working in private and public sectors in Lahore, Pakistan. The questions assessed dentists' knowledge about type of pain and predisposing factors of DH. The dentists were asked about their preferred methods of diagnosing and managing the condition. Statistical Analysis Basic statistics, chi-squared test, and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Results Most dentists (64.3%) reported examining one to five patients with DH per week in their dental clinics. A large majority (85.4%) indicated DH as a stimulated short pain from a tooth. Recession of gums (96.6%), aggressive brushing (88.2%), and frequent use of teeth whitening procedures (83.1%) were most frequently reported predisposing factors of DH. Among most commonly used methods of diagnosis, spontaneous pain after the application of air blast was reported by 74.8% of the participants and followed by spontaneous patient report confirmed by dental examination (57.7%). Most widely used management approaches of DH included the use of fluoride products (96.2%), use of desensitizing potassium nitrate toothpastes (75%), and application of bonding agents (56.2%). Female versus male dentists (odds ratio [OR]: 7.79, p < 0.001) and private practitioners versus public dentists (OR: 7.34, p < 0.001) were more likely to examine greater number of patients with DH. Conclusion Dentists used various methods for diagnosing and managing patients with DH. Application of air blast to evaluate spontaneous pain and use of fluoride products were most widely used diagnostic and management preferences, respectively. AbstractKeywords ► dentine hypersensitivity ► dentists ► knowledge ► diagnosis ► management

Objective The study was conducted to assess test anxiety and its influencing factors on medical and dental students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among students from three private and public medical and dental colleges in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The survey included statements about the demographic profile of the study participants and used the Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI) by Spielberger. Results The study included 680 students with a mean age of 20.93 ± 1.76 years. About half the sample (51.8%) scored high on test anxiety (TAI score > 45), and the mean TAI score was slightly higher for the dental (47.75 ± 11.45) than medical students (46.42 ± 12.79). Female students had a significantly higher mean TAI score (48.45 ± 12.79) than male students (41.85 ± 8.91; p < 0.001). The students from private colleges had a significantly greater test anxiety score (50.15 ± 13.23) than students from public colleges (42.88 ± 9.7; p < 0.001). Students whose parents were graduates from a college or university perceived significantly increased test anxiety than those of parents with no/school education ( p < 0.001). A female gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.10, 95% CI:1.37, 3.22), being a private college student (AOR 2.88, 95% CI:1.90, 4.38), and having a mother with a college or university education (AOR 2.05, 95% CI: 1.25, 3.35) were significantly associated with high on test anxiety. Conclusion In our study cohort, test anxiety was common among medical and dental students. A female gender, being a student from a private college, and having a mother with a high education were significantly associated with high test anxiety. The study findings may guide the development of programs that can reduce students’ test anxiety and potentially improve their education.

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