Impact of self-assessment on dental student's performance in pre-clinical conservative dentistry course.

BACKGROUND: Self-assessment (SA) is an interactive course that endorses the accomplishment of learning objectives through learners' identification of insufficiencies in their didactic knowledge and pre-clinical skills. This study was planned to determine whether there is any improvement in the faculty assessment (FA) score following the implementation of SA in the Pre-clinical Conservative Dentistry Course. METHODS: Fifty-four first-semester dental students were given an introductory lecture followed by a demonstration for Class I Cavity Preparation in typhodont mandibular first molar. At the end of the demonstration, the Scoring Rubric (SR) was explained point-wise in the prepared cavities. During the next session, all students performed Class I cavity preparation and they were given an assessment sheet to enter their scores (SA1). All teeth were evaluated by the Grading Faculties in a blinded manner (FA1). Each participant was explained the difference in their respective SA1 from FA1 and their queries were resolved individually. During the next sessions, Students and Grading Faculties followed the same protocol and scores were recorded as SA2, FA2, SA3 and FA3. RESULTS: The mean score of SA1 was significantly higher than that of FA1 (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was obtained between SA and FA in the second (p = 0.352) and third (p = 0.434) assessments. In contrast with first assessment, mean marks obtained in FA were higher compared to SA in both second and third assessments. There was a statistically significant improvement in mean marks obtained by the students over time (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: SA endorsed student-faculty communication and enhanced student's poise and technical skills in operative pre-clinical dentistry.

Prevalence of malnutrition and its associated sociodemographic and clinical factors among adolescents in selected schools of Urban Puducherry, India.

BACKGROUND: In India, adolescents constitute 21% of the total population. Majority of boys and girls in developing countries enter adolescence as undernourished, making them more vulnerable to several diseases. OBJECTIVE: Among adolescents in selected schools of urban Puducherry, we determined the prevalence of malnutrition and also assessed the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with undernutrition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among adolescents (10-18 years) in selected public schools of Urban Puducherry. Data were collected using semi-structured and pre-tested questionnaires. The data collection period was between September and October 2019. Malnutrition was assessed by the World Health Organisation recommended Height-for-age and body mass index-for-age cut-offs using AnthroPlus software. RESULTS: A total of 144 (28.9%) boys and 355 (71.1%) girls were included in the study (N = 499). The prevalence of malnutrition was 46.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.5-51.3). The prevalence of undernutrition was 33.3% (Stunting [21.6%] and Thinness [15%]). The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 10.2% and 5.8%, respectively. Male gender was found to be an independent risk factor of undernutrition (annual percentage rate = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.0-1.9); and known risk factors such as socio-economic status, parental education were not significantly associated with undernutrition. CONCLUSIONS: One in every two school-going adolescents was malnourished. Despite the high prevalence of undernourishment, over nourishment was also commonly observed. Educating parents and students about growth monitoring and dietary habits might help in bringing down the burden of malnutrition.

Prevalence of anaemia and compliance to weekly iron-folic acid supplementation programme amongst adolescents in selected schools of urban Puducherry, India.

CONTEXT: Adolescents constitutes 21% of total Indian population. Iron deficiency anaemia has remained as a major nutritional problem amongst adolescents. To overcome this problem, Government of India started weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFS) in 2012. AIMS: Amongst adolescents in selected schools of urban Puducherry, to determine the prevalence of anaemia, proportion of those compliant to WIFS and to assess the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with anaemia and compliance to WIFS. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted amongst school-going adolescents (10-18 years) in selected schools of Urban Puducherry. Data were collected using semi-structured, self-administered and pretested questionnaire. Haemoglobin estimation was done using a digital haemoglobinometer. Details regarding intake of iron and albendazole tablets were recorded. The anaemia status was evaluated as per World Health Organization guidelines. RESULTS: The prevalence of anaemia was found to be 62.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 58.2-67.0). Proportion having mild, moderate and severe anaemia were 27.3%, 32.5% and 2.8% respectively. The proportion of adolescents compliant to WIFS was 67.7%. Late adolescents were significantly more associated with anaemia (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]: 1.7 95% CI: 1.0-3.0) as compared to early adolescents. Males were more compliant to iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets (aPR 1.4 95% CI: 1.0-1.8). CONCLUSIONS: More than half of adolescents were anaemic. This study emphasises on the fact that stricter supervision by teachers will result in better compliance to WIFS program. Strategies to improve WIFS compliance, imparting knowledge regarding IFA intake and involvement of school teachers will help to tackle anaemia amongst adolescents.