Evaluation of Nursing Students' Knowledge on Dental Injuries.

Background/aims: Emergency department visits for dental issues are mainly related to traumatic injuries. Knowledge of emergency department staff regarding diagnosis and treatment of dentofacial injuries is quite significant for prognosis of teeth and peripheral tissues. The aim of this study is to assess attitude, knowledge, education and self-confidence of undergraduate nursing students, who will work at emergency departments in the future, regarding diagnosis and treatment of dental traumatic injuries.

Materials and methods: This survey was prepared by modifying questions of the previous survey that had been internationally published. It was a face-to-face survey consisting of 15 questions regarding management of the dental traumas. Questions addressing participants' genders and year of study were added to the survey form. The survey was distributed to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th-year undergraduate nursing students. Analysis results were presented in the form of frequencies. Pearson's chi-squared test and the Fisher-Freeman-Halton test were used for analysis of the categorical data. Multiple comparisons were made using the Bonferroni-correction Z test. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: The survey was responded by a total of 297 participants, including 47 men and 250 women. Participants consisted of 35.4% first-year, 28.6% second-year, 15.5% third-year, and 20.5% fourth-year nursing students. The third-year undergraduate students believed that they had adequate knowledge, and they were also the group that most strongly supported for administration of tetanus vaccine (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed among nursing students regarding other topics. Students' knowledge and awareness levels respecting particularly avulsion injuries were found to be inadequate regardless of their year of study.

Conclusions: Knowledge of most undergraduate nursing students regarding diagnosis and treatment of dentofacial traumatic injuries were insufficient. An additional education is required for students during and after their formal education to manage dental traumas following graduation.