Research training needs on HIV and oral health among dentists in resource limited settings: A cross-sectional study

Background: Oral health among people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Uganda is under-researched, despite its critical impact on their overall health and quality of life. This gap is partly attributed to limited capacity in human resources and research infrastructure. This study aimed to evaluate the HIV/oral health research training needs among dentists in Uganda. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 86 dentists licensed to practice in Uganda. A self-administered online questionnaire, adapted from the Hennessey-Hicks training needs analysis tool, was used to collect data. The questionnaire included four rating scales to assess HIV/oral health research training needs by comparing the perceived importance of specific competencies to the current performance ratings provided by participants. Performance improvement was analyzed using two rating scales to determine whether the identified training needs could be better addressed through organizational changes or individual training. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 17.0. Results: Between September and October 2024, 86 dentists participated in the study. The median age of participants was 32 years (interquartile range (IQR): 27-38), with 59.3% being male. Significant HIV/oral health research training needs were identified, with a median difference score between perceived importance and current performance ratings of 1.3 (IQR: 0.5-2.2) and a P-value of <0.001. Both organizational changes and individual training approaches were similarly rated as important in addressing these training needs, with median scores of 5.9 (IQR: 5.1-6.6) and 6.1 (IQR: 5.2-6.7), respectively (P-value = 0.108). Conclusion: The findings highlight significant HIV/oral health research training needs among dentists in Uganda. Addressing these needs requires a combined approach that integrates individual training with organizational support initiatives.