Self-reported confidence and anxiety over endodontic procedures in undergraduate students-Quantitative and qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The current literature shows a growing interest to assess the feelings and perceptions of students associated with the performance of elective endodontic procedures. This study aimed to evaluate the students' anxiety and self-perceptions related to performing such treatments. METHODS: Forty-five students participated in the research (G1 = 22 beginners students; G2 = 23 senior students). Demographic data, STAI-State and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pre-operative anxiety were completed before the appointment with patient. The STAI-Trait; NRS for post-operative anxiety; previous experiences in endodontics; and level of confidence in each stage of endodontic treatments were collected after appointment. Focal groups for qualitative data collection were performed on separate occasion. RESULTS: Both groups showed higher scores in STAI-State than for STAI-Trait scale. G1 showed higher levels of anxiety in the pre-operative, compared with post-operative moment in the NRS scale. G2 reported feeling more confidence to insert intracanal medication and to restore teeth between appointments than G1. In both focus groups, participants reported insecurity in performing endodontic procedures due to difficulty in visualisation and to anatomic complexities. G1 reported that all the confidence they had was based in pre-clinical experience, and G2 mentioned concern about the end of graduation. CONCLUSION: The participants' anxiety diminishes as they gain more experience in performing endodontic procedures. However, as they approach the end of the course anxiety levels increase. Greater availability of elective courses in endodontics could be a valuable alternative to provide students with more exposure to and experience with these procedures.

Experiences during the execution of emergency endodontic treatment and levels of anxiety in dental students.

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the experience of dental students and assess their anxiety levels when performing emergency endodontic treatments. METHODS: Undergraduate students completed the STAI-Trait/State and a questionnaire to assess their confidence level to perform each step of an emergency endodontic procedure. They also answered a numerical scale (NRS) for anxiety before and after emergency care. Ten randomly selected students from the same sample further participated in a focus group aimed at obtaining qualitative data on their perception of endodontic treatments' conduction and the learning process necessary to perform them. RESULTS: A total of 23 students joined the study. The majority of the participants reported feeling "confident" when performing local anaesthesia (57.6%), rubber dam placement (57.6%) and coronal sealing (72.7%). However, a small number reported feeling "little confident" to perform access cavity (15.2%) or pulpotomy/pulpectomy (24.2%). Students who scored above the 3rd quartile of STAI-Trait/State were classified as "highly anxious," and comprised 26.1% of the sample. The values of NRS scale were higher in the preoperative when compared with the post-operative assessment. All students classified as "highly anxious" reported low confidence in performing "access cavity" and "pulpotomy/pulpectomy." CONCLUSION: Both quantitative and qualitative analysis showed different anxiety levels in dental students. It can possibly contribute to a reduction in confidence prior to emergency endodontic procedures. The current findings suggest it might be important to rearrange activities in order to allow for more practical classes in Endodontics.