Evaluation of Self-Perceived Confidence and Competence in Oral Surgery among Final Year Undergraduate Students in Greece.

OBJECTIVES:  Oral surgery is an integral part of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and management of pathology of the mouth and jaws that requires surgical intervention. The aim of undergraduate studies in oral surgery is, upon graduation, to be confident and competent to treat without assistance surgical cases in the spectrum of general dentistry. This study evaluates the senior Greek dental students' self-confidence and self-perceived competence to undertake cases within the scope of oral surgery. Evaluation of clinical experience gathered during training and self-perceived confidence and competence in generic oral surgery skills is included.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:  The present study was a questionnaire survey conducted during the academic year 2018-2019. The questionnaire comprised three sections. Section 1 included demographic data and four closed-ended questions concerning numerical data about procedures that they had already performed or observed, section 2 included four questions concerning their self-perceived competence to perform basic surgical techniques, and section 3 included 10 clinical case scenarios.

RESULTS:  One hundred and twenty-seven students participated in the study. Among the basic surgical skills, students were most confident with suturing, and they were least confident with bone removal. Students from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) tend to show higher level of confidence compared with students from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in most questions.

CONCLUSION:  Greek graduate dental students report moderate levels of self-confidence in oral surgery. A realistic approach in increasing self-confidence and competence in oral surgery would be the focus on preclinical training in generic elementary surgical skills, in combination with increased observational sessions of oral surgery procedures or outreach training.