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. 2020 Dec 10;17(6):472-479.
eCollection 2020 Nov-Dec.

Perception and willingness toward oral pathology and histology as a subject and profession among Indian dental undergraduates

Pulin Saluja  1 , Charu Khurana  2 , Aparna Dave  1 , Manpreet Arora  1 , Srishti Kumar  1
Affiliations

Perception and willingness toward oral pathology and histology as a subject and profession among Indian dental undergraduates

Pulin Saluja et al. Dent Res J (Isfahan). .

Abstract

Background: Oral pathology, a branch of dentistry which is often termed as a nonclinical branch deserves a better description as fundamental knowledge of oral pathology is essential to become a successful dental clinician. This study was conducted to analyze the approach toward Oral Pathology and Histology as a subject and profession among dental undergraduates.

Materials and methods: A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 students which included the 3rd year, 4th year and interns studying in a Dental College in Gurugram, Haryana. The questionnaire comprised 14 close-ended questions, divided under three parameters which included demographic characteristics, students' perception about the Oral Pathology and Histology as a subject, and willingness to choose it as a career option. The data recorded was subjected to statistical analysis using the Chi-square test. The level of statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.

Results: Among all the participants, 53 (26.5%) were males and 147 (73.5%) were females. It was found that 33.5% of the total students find the subject interesting, but 24.5% students reported their main focus on just passing this subject. Although they reported liking toward the subject, majority of them (64%) did not express their interest to pursue it as their postgraduation specialty.

Conclusion: The present scenario of Oral Pathology and Histology as a subject is alarming and in that scenario it should be our prime concern to change the attitude of students toward the subject who perceive it as a nonclinical subject having a lesser scope for practice with a need to broaden the scope of the specialty and to make it more practical.

Keywords: Attitude; dental students; oral pathology; scenario.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors of this manuscript declare that they have no conflicts of interest, real or perceived, financial or non-financial in this article.

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