Evaluation of the Perceived Confidence of Undergraduate Dental Students in Performing Endodontic Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Dental students’ confidence is a crucial factor affecting the success of endodontic teaching. The aim of this study was to determine the dental students’ confidence level in performing endodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 dental students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences participated in this descriptive study by census sampling. A self-administered questionnaire, including demographic data, endodontic experience, confidence in performing different stages of endodontic treatment, and suggestions for improving the quality of endodontic training, was distributed among the fourth to sixth year students. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, USA), using t test, ANOVA, and linear regression analysis (α = 0.05). Results: The response rate was approximately 88%, and the highest and lowest confidence scores (standard deviation) were reported for establishing proper communication with patients with 4.0 (34.67) and finding all root canals with 3.0 (23.88). The confidence score of male students was significantly higher than female students (P < 0.05). There was no significant association between the total score of confidence and difficulty level of the first endodontic treatment and educational level (P > 0.05). The multiple linear regression showed a significant correlation between the difficulty level of the first endodontic treatment and confidence (β = −2.1, P = 0.02, 95% CI: −3.9–−0.2). Conclusion: Given the low confidence level of students in some skills, the following are suggested to be taught practically and theoretically. Female students should be provided with a technique to improve confidence. Moreover, the first tooth for endodontic treatment should be selected more thoughtfully.