Impacts of educational interventions on the knowledge of prevention and emergency management of traumatic dental injuries in 11-17-year-old martial arts athletes: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: We compared the effect of an educational pamphlet and a mobile application regarding prevention and emergency management of sport-related traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) on knowledge and self-reported preventive practice of 11-17-year-old Karate and Taekwondo athletes. METHODS: Participants were invited through an online link published by the Public Relations of the corresponding federations. They completed an anonymous questionnaire consisting of demographics, self-reported experience of TDIs, knowledge of emergency management of TDIs, self-reported preventive practice of TDIs, and the reason for not using mouthguard. The respondents were randomly allocated to pamphlet or mobile application group with the same content. Three months after the intervention, the questionnaire was completed by the athletes again. Repeated measures ANOVA and a linear regression model served for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In pamphlet group, 51 athletes and in mobile application group 57 athletes completed both baseline and follow-up questionnaires. At baseline, the mean score was 1.98 ± 1.20 and 1.82 ± 1.24 (out of 7) for the knowledge and 3.70 ± 1.64 and 3.33 ± 1.95 (out of 7) for practice in the pamphlet and application group, respectively. In 3-month follow-up, the mean score of knowledge and self-reported practice was significantly higher compared to baseline in both groups (p < 0.001) with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.83 and p = 0.58, respectively). Most of the athletes were very satisfied or satisfied with both types of the educational intervention. CONCLUSION: Both pamphlet and mobile application seem to be useful to improve awareness and practice regarding TDI prevention in adolescent athletes.

Effectiveness of smart phone application use as continuing medical education method in pediatric oral health care: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Continuing education aims at assisting physicians to maintain competency and expose them to emerging issues in their field. Over the last decade, approaches to the delivery of educational content have changed dramatically as medical education at all levels is now benefitting from the use of web-based content and applications for mobile devices. The aim of the present study is to investigate through a randomized trial the effectiveness of a smart phone application to increase public health service physicians' (PHS physicians) knowledge regarding pediatric oral health care. METHOD: Five of all seven DHCs (District Health Center) in Tehran, which were under the supervision of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Iran University of Medical Sciences, were selected for our study. Physicians of one DHC had participated in a pilot study. All PHS physicians in the other four centers were invited to the current study on a voluntary basis (n = 107). They completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding their knowledge, attitudes, practice in pediatric dentistry, and background. PHS physicians were assigned randomly to intervention and control groups; those in the intervention group, received a newly designed evidence-based smartphone application, and those in the control group received a booklet, a CME seminar, and a pamphlet. A post-intervention survey was administered 4 months later and t-test and repeated measures ANCOVA (Analysis of Covariance) were performed to measure the difference in the PHS physicians' knowledge, attitude and practice. RESULTS: In both groups, the mean knowledge scores were significantly higher (p-Value < 0.001) in post-intervention data compared to those at baseline. Similar results existed in attitude and practice scores. Although the scores in knowledge in the intervention group indicating potentially greater improvement when compared to those of the control group, the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (dif: 0.84, 95% CI - 0.35 to 2.02). CONCLUSION: In the light of the limitations of the present study, smart phone applications could improve knowledge, attitude and practice in physicians although this method was not superior to the conventional method of CME. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Our clinical trial had been registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (registration code: IRCT2016091029765N1).

Tobacco use among Iranian dental students: a national survey.

A national survey was conducted to provide up-to-date data on current and ever use of tobacco among Iranian dental students. All 4th-year students of 8 randomly selected dental schools were surveyed anonymously in December 2010 using the Global Health Professions Student Survey questionnaire. Of 325 participants, 54.2% were ever users of tobacco products (73.0% of males versus 44.4% of females); 50.8% had used waterpipes, 34.2% cigarettes and 9.3% other products. The most common age at first use was 20-24 years for both sexes. Current tobacco use was reported by 20.6% of respondents, cigarette smoking by 10.8% and waterpipe smoking by 15.8%. Regression models showed that current cigarette and waterpipe smoking were significantly associated with male sex but not with type of dental school (state/private). Current waterpipe smoking was also associated with age at first experience. In view of the important role of dentists in tobacco control, the prevention of tobacco use should be stressed among Iranian dental students.

Evaluation of Microleakage in Composite-Composite and Amalgam-Composite Interfaces in Tooth with Preventive Resin Restoration (Ex-viva).

OBJECTIVE: This study addresses the question of whether conservative methods of restoration may be applied efficaciously in permanent posterior teeth with proximal lesions and intact occlusal preventive resin restoration (PRR). The purpose of the present study was to assess the microleakage at amalgam-composite interface and composite-composite interface in permanent tooth with PRR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons were selected. The occlusal surfaces were sealed as preventive resin restoration. Then the teeth were stored in incubator for 6 months. After this period, two single boxes were prepared in mesial and distal surfaces in each tooth and filled with amalgam. Another class I composite restoration was prepared in occlusal surface in contact with the first PRR. Then samples were thermocycled and marginal leakage was assessed by the degree of dye penetration on sections of the restored teeth. Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests served for statistical analyses. RESULTS: In 51.4% of amalgam-composite interfaces the dye reached the pulpal wall. The corresponded figures for amalgam-tooth and composite-composite interfaces were 31.4% and 14.3%, respectively. The differences in microleakage among the three interfaces were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In the teeth restored with PRR technique, restoring proximal lesions with a conservative technique may lead to favorable results concerning microleakage.

Smoking and its determinants among Iranian dental students.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to investigate smoking habits of Iranian dental students in relation to their background characteristics and oral self-care (OSC). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A survey in the form of a questionnaire was conducted of 327 senior dental students in seven randomly selected state dental schools in Iran. In addition to smoking habits and background characteristics, the students were asked about OSC. A recommended level of OSC was defined as a combination of brushing at least twice a day, frequent use of fluoridated toothpaste, and eating sugary snacks less than daily. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 263 students (113 males and 150 females) completely answered the questions and were included in the analyses. RESULTS: Of the 263 students, 59 (23%, 37 males and 22 females) reported current smoking (cigarette, pipe, or water pipe). Current smoking was associated with male gender (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.4-5.6), level of father's education (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.8), and OSC (OR = 4.4, 95% CI = 1.3-14.9). CONCLUSION: Smoking among Iranian dental students is similar to their socioeconomic group, and is associated with the characteristics of their background, such as gender and father's level of education, as well as the quality of OSC. The results indicate a need to include smoking cessation education and public health activities in the dental curriculum to provide future health care professionals and role models for patients with adequate training in up-to-date patient management to control smoking.

Study motives and career choices of Iranian dental students.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the study motives and career choices of Iranian senior dental students in relation to their background factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: During the spring term 2005, a questionnaire survey was administered to 327 senior dental students in seven randomly selected state dental schools in Iran. The questionnaire requested information on age, gender, parents' employment in dentistry, previous education and employment in dental hygiene, study motives, and career choices. Statistical analyses were made using independent sample t test, factor analysis, and binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: Based on the factor analysis, which explained 73% of the total variance, five motive dimensions were identified: altruism and intellectual challenges, characteristics of the profession, social status and security, other person's recommendation, and failure to be admitted to other study programmes. The mean for the 'characteristics of the profession' dimension was lower among the students with at least one parent employed in dentistry (p = 0.03). The 'altruism and intellectual challenges' dimension was reported to be more influential by the students with background in dental hygiene (32 students) compared to the others (p < 0.001). Engaging in postgraduate studies was the first career preference of 189 (70%) of the respondents. Those with a background in dental hygiene were less inclined to enter postgraduate courses (p < 0.001), but more eager to be employed in either the public or the private sector (p < 0.001), and to enter the community oral health and research field (p < 0.001) than the others. CONCLUSION: Personal characteristics and motives of the students play a major role in shaping their career preferences.