Oral Health and Dental Management

The effect of stress on clinical and preclinical dental student performance

28^th Asia Pacific Congress on Dental and Oral Health

July 10-12, 2017 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ali AlBandar, Najlaa Basulayb and Hala Mokhtar

King Abdul-Aziz University, KSA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Oral Health Dent Manag

Abstract:

Introduction & Aim: It is well known that dental training constitutes a stressful environment among undergraduate students. The aim of this study is to identify the effect of stressors on clinical and preclinical dental student performance. Material & Methods: A cross sectional study was designed using a questionnaire modified DES distributed on 288 male and female undergraduate students. We randomly used the sample of the grade subjects of the students to measure their performance and compare the first and second semesters. Results: One hundred twenty-four (49.6%) were females and 126 were males (50.4%). Sixth year students showed highest responses (27.20%), 3rd year lowest responses (14.40%), with the most stressful factors being the theoretical domain and the least stressful factors were the faculty domain and some of them included the personal domain. ANOVA statistical test were used to assess the mean difference in the levels of stress between 2nd 3rd 4th 5th and 6th year which proved significant for almost all questions. The grades of the students showed improvement between first and second semesters. Conclusion: Improvement of the grades throughout the academic year among our students despite the proportional increase in stress reflects higher motivation and confidence as well as didactic knowledge and cognitive skills all gained and compiled through our evidence based and patient cantered curriculum enhancing the students�?? critical thinking and higher clinical skills.

Biography :

Ali AlBandar has completed his Internship at King Abdul-Aziz University, Faculty of Dentistry at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, KSA.

Email: dr.alialbandar@gmail.com