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Curriculum Gaps in Periodontal Knowledge Among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Atanur Sarioglu1, Tugrul Kirtiloglu1
1Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
Introduction:
Periodontal disease is a major public health concern with well-established systemic implications. Despite the increasing emphasis on the periodontal-systemic health connection, the extent to which periodontal disease is integrated into medical education is still unclear. This study aims to assess the knowledge, oral hygiene practices and attitudes of first-year and final-year medical students regarding periodontal disease, while also evaluating its inclusion in the medical curriculum.
Materials And Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among first- and final-year medical students at Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising 32 items across four domains: oral hygiene behaviours, periodontal education, knowledge of periodontal disease and awareness and attitudes toward periodontal health. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS v.21.
Results:
A total of 596 medical students participated in the study, consisting of 281 first-year and 315 final-year students. Final-year students reported significantly higher rates of receiving periodontal education during medical school (41.3%) compared to first-year students (22.4%). In four out of five knowledge-based questions, final-year students demonstrated significantly higher correct response rates than first-year students (p < 0.001). Additionally, in the attitude and awareness section, final-year students showed significantly greater agreement with statements linking periodontal disease to diabetes (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Although final-year students performed significantly better than first-year students in both knowledge and awareness regarding periodontal health, the overall level of knowledge remained insufficient. These findings highlight the need for more structured and integrated periodontal education within undergraduate medical curricula to support early diagnosis, interdisciplinary collaboration and improved patient outcomes.
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