Undergraduate Students’ Knowledge on Temporomandibular Disorders in Croatia

Abstract

Th e aim of this study was to evaluate Croatian undergraduate students‘ knowledge based on what they learned in the recent course, as well as the students‘ own judgment and opinions about geriatric dentistry education concerning temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) of the elderly. Th e study was carried out by means of a questionnaire administered in the last study year to students of the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb and students of the Department of Dental Medicine at the School of Medicine, University of Rijeka. Th e questionnaire included questions about relevant specifi c knowledge on TMD, and statements related to their own opinion about geriatric dentistry education received during the study. Regarding students‘ knowledge related to TMDs, students from Rijeka gave more positive answers (p=0.012). Students from Rijeka gave more positive answers regarding physical therapy for treatment of TMD (p=0.004) and disc displacement and osteoarthritis as the most common disorders of the temporomandibular joint (p=0.031). Students from Zagreb were more unsatisfi ed with the skills in the fi eld of geriatric dentistry (disagreed 57.45%) than students from Rijeka (45.83% had neutral standpoint and 37.50% agreed) (p=0.005). Th e level of the participants‘ knowledge pointed to the need of improving undergraduate dental teaching about the specifi c geriatric education, including knowledge about TMD.

Keywords

• Students
• Croatia
• Geriatric dentistry
• Osteoarthritis
• Temporomandibular joint disorders
• Education, dental