[Investigation of dental manpower in non-public dental institutions in Liaoning province].

PURPOSE: To investigate the non-public oral medical institutions in Liaoning province in 2011, and to analyze the status of dental manpower in non-public dental institutions in Liaoning province. METHODS: A mass survey on dental manpower was made in non-public dental institutions in Liaoning province in 2011 by means of questionnaire investigation, which included the institution type, dental devices, and the number, structure, composition, distribution of dental manpower in non-public dental institutions in Liaoning province. Data was entered with EpiData 3.0 and analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software package. RESULTS: There were 1649 non-public dental institutions with 3132 dentists, 1265 nurses, 540 technicians and 3490 dental chairs in Liaoning province. 85.69% of the dental manpower were young and middle-aged. 33.17% of the dentists had primary professional titles, 42.53% of them had college degree and 87.96% of the dentists was general dentistry. In the dental auxiliaries, the primary professional title accounted for the majority. 95.97% of the nurses majored in general dentistry and 60.40% of the nurses' educational background were below junior college degree. 72.59% of the technicians majored in prosthetic dentistry and 67.78% of their educational background were below junior college degree. The ratio of the dentists to nurses to technicians was 6:2:1. The ratio of the nurses to dental chairs was 1:2.76. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution and composition of dental manpower are not reasonable in non-public dental institutions in Liaoning province. We should strengthen effective utilization of oral health resources and the oral health service ability of non -public dental institutions in Liaoning province. Supported by Key Science and Technology Projects of Liaoning Province (2012225015).

[Investigation of the medical institutions of stomatology and dental manpower distribution in Liaoning province].

PURPOSE: The aim of this investigation was to determine and analyze the distribution of the medical institutions of stomatology and dental manpower in Liaoning province. METHODS: The data of institutions and manpower was collected by mass examination using tables filled by every institution and personally. Epidata 3.02 database was used to input the data and statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS12.0 software package. RESULTS: The results showed that there were 2155 dental institutions and 5617 dentists in Liaoning province. Among all the institutes, 71.0% was private clinics. About 80.5% of institutions and 87.8% of dentists were in the urban area, which was significantly higher than the percent of dentists working in the rural area. The ratio between dentists and the general population was about 13.02/10 million. There were fewer dental auxiliary in dental institutions, the ratio between dentists, nurses and dental technician was 6:2:1. The title and degree of the dentists in the rural area were lower than those in urban area, but the dentists in the rural area provided service for a large population. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the distribution of oral health resource in Liaoning province should be rationally readjusted, and continuing education and training should be strengthened in order to improve the efficiency of oral health service and social health justice. Supported by Key Medical Professional Construction Project of Liaoning Province (Grant No.200809).

Application of problem-based learning in a large class in stomatology course.

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of implementing problem-based learning (PBL) in a large class and whether previous PBL experience is necessary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 236 students from 2 large classes at China Medical University were enrolled. One class (118 students) had had a previous small-group PBL experience and another class (113 students) had not. Each class was subdivided into 15 groups (7 to 8 students/group) and took 2 separate 100-minute PBL sessions per week with the same teaching faculty. Each PBL class had 2 facilitators, 1 content expert facilitator, and 1 nonexpert facilitator. The results of the theoretical examination and case analysis examinations were analyzed using the t test. Questionnaires were used to evaluate both student and facilitator perceptions. RESULTS: The feedback from both students and facilitators was positive. According to the questionnaires, both experienced and non-experienced students acknowledged that the teaching method was enjoyable and functional. The test results showed students had achieved the learning objectives. The results of the theoretical and case analysis examinations showed no significant difference between the PBL experienced class and the non-experienced class. The mean study hours spent weekly by the students after class on the course were about 6.3 +/- 1.1 hours for the non-experienced students and 4.7 +/- 0.981 hours for the experienced students (t = 11.94, P < .001). The non-experienced students showed more preference for the content expert tutor. CONCLUSION: Implementing PBL in a large class is feasible without extracting great demand on limited educational resources. Previous PBL experience is helpful but not necessary.

[Difference between dental caries and oral health behavior of family in primary dentition].

OBJECTIVE: To study the dental caries status in the primary dentition of 5-year-old children and analyze the difference of oral health behavior of family between urban and rural in Liaoning province. METHODS: The representative samples were selected by multi-stage, stratified and random sampling from Liaoning province. Dental caries of 792 children at five years were recorded according to World Health Organization criteria. The questionnaries were finished by 396 parents of the children and analyzed the oral health behavior of family in urban and rural by chi-squre test. RESULTS: The prevalence and dmft of dental caries of 5-year-old children in Liaoning province was 73.86% and 4.38, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries in 5-year-old children was 64.14% in urban and 83.59% in rural. There was significant difference on the consumption of sweets, chocolate, water with sugar and beverage between the children in urban and rural. More urban children had good toothbrushing behavior such as the time of beginning brush tooth, the frequency of brushing and daily use of fluoridated toothpaste compared with the rural children. The parents in urban had high level of education and incomes and there were more children in urban have regular dental visit pattern than in rural. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that there is an urgent need for the implementation of a systematic education on oral health behavior of family on rural children in Liaoning province.

[The prevalence and trends of caries in Liaoning province].

PURPOSE: The aim of this investigation was to analyse the dental caries prevalence, patterns and trends of all age groups in Liaoning province. METHODS: The representative samples were selected by multi-stage, stratified and random sampling, which included subjects aged 5,12,35-44 and 65-74 years. Clinical examination was based on WHO methodology(4th Ed). Student's t test and Chi-square test were applied for statistical evaluation of the mean caries experience(DMFT/dmft) and the prevalence proportion rates of dental caries (PP) between 1995 and 2005 using SPSS 12.0 software package. RESULTS: At age 5,12,35-44, the PP was 73.86%,30.05% and 63.89% respectively,which was lower than in 1995, the number being 89.49%, 59.19% and 70.26%. However, at 65-74 years, the PP was 67.40% in 2005, and there was no significant difference compared with 1995. For the two national survey, the PP and DMFT were higher in urban than in rural area. But the dmft in 5-year-old in urban was lower than in rural in 2005. CONCLUSIONS: The trend of dental caries in children and adults was declined in 2005, but it was still higher. It is essential to strengthen oral health education and promotion and continuously implement preventive oral care technique in Liaoning province.