Awareness About Dental Radiography Among Dental Students

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the difference in knowledge and attitude of graduates and undergraduates towards radiological practice and hazards in dentistry. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional questionnaire based study was conducted on the dental students and trainees of a public sector teaching and tertiary care institute. Questionnaire consisted of three sections of multiple choice questions including those of knowledge about dental radiography (05 questions), attitude towards dental radiography (05 questions) and practices pertinent to dental radiography (06 questions). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0 software. Pearson's Chi Square test was used for the comparison of responses between the two groups at a p=value <0.05. RESULTS: Out of total 900 participants, data of 480 participants were included in the data analysis (postgraduates= 251; undergraduates=229). Descriptive analysis shows that undergraduates had less knowledge and lack attitude and practices towards dental radiography as compared to postgraduate students with significant difference between the two groups (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: This lack of knowledge, attitude and practices among undergraduate students (including house officers) suggest that there is a need to improve the knowledge, attitudes and practices pertinent to basic dental radiography among undergraduate students and house officers and bring it at par to that of postgraduate trainees.