Introduction : The Syrian crisis started 9 years ago causing substantial damage to the country’s infrastructure, and the consequences of this tragedy have further stunted the underdeveloped research environment in Syria. This paper aims to address the challenges of conducting medical research among Syrian academics during the Syrian crisis. Methods: The data were collected from (471) Syrian researchers (MsC or PhD students, university professors) from 13 universities and hospitals, covering 10 governates. A questionnaire was developed to collect the data and 52 factors were identified as research challenges. Results: The main institutional challenges are: (94%) insufficient funding, (80.3%) difficulties in acquiring supplies and equipment, (79.6%) lack of neutrality in approving research proposals. In regards to the personal challenges, (70.1%) expressed a high level of motivation to carry out research but only (33.4%) are confident that they have enough knowledge, (53.1%) do not have academic writing skills, (73.5%) do not have the basic information about medical statistics. For the crisis related factors, (83.5%) cite collecting data and reaching the sources of data as the main challenge, (80.4%) for losing contact with the patients because of the war situation, (76.3%) for lack of governmental support for the research during the crisis. Conclusion: Syrian medical researchers continue to face a number of challenges and the Syrian crisis has brought more problems and obstacles to the surface. However, despite those numerous challenges, researchers from Syrian institutes are still working on research projects.

Background War on Syria extended for a long time and resulted in significant impacts on various aspects, one of these aspects was displaced people crisis, and thus its impact on complete neglecting of oral health despite of its importance and impacts on the general health. This study aims to assess the oral health of the displaced Syria sample as a result of the war on Syria. Methods The sample included 118 patients of displaced families from different regions and cities to shelters in Damascus city, and the study included 118 control samples from the Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University. The non-profit initiative team included 20 dentists of all dental specialties. Oral health was assessed using DMFT index. Data were analyzed using SPSS V.22 in comparison with the gender of the patients, age groups, and socioeconomic status. Finally, the number of the treatment provided by the non-profit initiative was collected and presented in the study. Results No significant differences found in the DMFT index between children and adults (P = 0.750), DMFT value ranged between (0 and 11) with a mean value (2.4). The total DMFT value for adults was (2.77), while for children (2.12). Also, no statistical difference was found between males and females (P = 0.688). While the control group had an average DMFT value of (2.37), the difference between the displaced and control samples was not significant. Over 200 dental treatments were provided by the team. Conclusion This study concluded that the DMFT value is high among the displaced people as one of the consequences of the war on Syria, however, no significant difference was found when the results of the displaced sample was compared to a control sample.

No abstract

Background: War on Syria extended for a long time and which resulted in significant impacts on various aspects, one of these aspects was displaced people crisis, and thus its impact on complete neglecting of oral health despite of its importance and impacts on the general health. This study aims to assess the oral health of the displaced as a result of the war on Syria. Materials and Methods: the sample included 118 patients of displaced families from different regions and cities to shelters in Damascus city and Damascus suburbs, and the study sample included 118 control samples whose data were collected from the Faculty of Dentistry - Damascus University. The working team included 20 dentists of all dental specialties. Oral health was assessed using DMFT index. Results: the results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the DMFT index value between children and adults, where the value of DMFT was (0-11) with a mean value (2.4), as the total value of DMFT between the two age groups was greater in adults' group than the children group. The total DMFT value for adults was (2.77), while for children (2.12). Statistical difference was noticed only in the numbers of missing teeth between the two age groups (P = 0.000), and there was no statistical difference between males and females in term of the DMFT value (P = 0.688). Conclusion: This study concluded that the DMFT value is high among the displaced people as a result of the war on Syria.