Use of YouTube™ as a self-directed learning resource in oral surgery among undergraduate dental students: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was done to assess the use and effectiveness of YouTube™ as a learning resource for oral surgery by fourth and final-year dental students at a single university. A study-specific survey was distributed to fourth (n=83) and final-year (n=86) dental students during a six-week period. In total, 122 (72%) responded. Most (n=82, 67%) used YouTube™ as study material, and 50 (41%) stated that the videos had influenced their practice. Generally, the quality was rated as good, and YouTube™ was a popular and influential learning resource. However, the material was not always consistent with that of the curriculum, and students should use it with caution as there is no quality assurance with respect to educational content or learning outcomes. Institutions should provide recorded learning material and teach students skills in the critical appraisal of contemporary teaching materials such as open-resource videos.

Adequacy and clarity of information on out-of-hours emergency dental services at Greater Manchester NHS dental practices: a cross-sectional study.

Objective To perform an evaluation of the information given to patients seeking emergency dental services during out-of-hours periods in Greater Manchester.Method This is a cross-sectional study. A list of all NHS dental practices in Greater Manchester was obtained from the NHS website. The investigators then accessed websites and voicemails of all practices to assess the information given to patients.Results The study shows that most practices have voicemail, which includes varying information on how to access emergency dental services during out-of-hours periods. Few of those included advice on the management of common dental emergencies. On the other hand, the majority of practices did not have websites. From those who included advice on how to access emergency dental services during out-of-hours periods on how to manage common dental emergencies on their websites, the information was easy to find.Conclusion The current information could be improved by ensuring the inclusion of essential details. Websites would help by including more details. In turn, this could help to reduce the number of inappropriate presentations to A&E departments.

Two-week wait false alarms? A prospective investigation of 2WW head and neck cancer referrals.

Objectives i) To prospectively explore patients' experience through the two-week wait (2WW) referral process; ii) To compare the relative true malignancy diagnostic rate between general medical practitioners (GMPs) and general dental practitioners (GDPs) over a six-month period; iii) To compare management of 2WW referral cases between GMPs and GDPs before the referral and during the 2 weeks in regards to symptomatic support, investigations in primary care, and information communicated to patients and secondary care clinicians; iv) To investigate the benign conditions that comprise 2WW referrals by finding out the final diagnoses of all cases included in the study.Method The patient inclusion criteria were all 2WW referral patients who attended consultation clinics during the six-month study period in Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust. We prospectively distributed patient questionnaires and clinician's referral assessment forms. We obtained the final diagnoses of all participants electronically, and also identified all malignancies diagnosed via routine referral route during the study period from the cancer services team.Results Two hundred and twenty patients referred via 2WW pathway participated in the study. Of these, 148 referrals were from GMPs and 72 from GDPs. The overall malignancy diagnostic yield was 6.2%; markedly higher from GMPs (9.5%) than GDPs (1.4%), and higher number than those from routine pathway. The GMPs and GDPs showed similar levels of clinical management and information exchange judging from the participants' responses. We also identified the top nine most commonly urgently referred benign conditions.Conclusion We reiterate the need for improved communication between clinicians and patients and between clinicians. We also suggest more focus on education in commonly encountered conditions as well as malignant lesions. The number of 2WW referrals we received from GMPs was nearly twice as many as those from GDPs, highlighting the importance of delivering oral medicine education to medical students, trainees and GMPs.