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. 2024 Sep 30;24(1):1074.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06042-5.

Undergraduate dental sleep medicine teaching at German university dental schools - a questionnaire-based survey

Janine Sambale  1 , Anahita Jablonski-Momeni  2 , Heike Maria Korbmacher-Steiner  2
Affiliations

Undergraduate dental sleep medicine teaching at German university dental schools - a questionnaire-based survey

Janine Sambale et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Purpose: Diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) requires fundamental understanding of sleep medicine, including training and clinical experience. So far, dental sleep medicine (DSM) has not yet become a mandatory part of dental education in Germany. This questionnaire-based survey for both lecturers and students aimed to evaluate DSM education among undergraduate students.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was sent to the managing directors and student councils of all 30 German university dental schools. The questionnaire contained 13 questions on teaching quantity and content, lecturers' knowledge, and future interest in DSM. For each university dental school, only one questionnaire should be completed by the student council and the managing director. A scoring system assessed lecturers' knowledge based on clinical experience and qualifications. Descriptive data and correlation coefficients were calculated (P < 0.05).

Results: The responses of 24 lecturers (80%) and 28 students (93.3%) could be evaluated. DSM was reported to be included in the curriculum by 14 lecturers (58.3%) and 4 students (14.3%). Mean teaching hours per semester were 1.4 ± 1.4 h (lecturers) and 0.2 ± 0.6 h (students) accordingly. Greater knowledge of lecturers in DSM was positively correlated with the inclusion of DSM in the curriculum (P = 0.022) and with the number of teaching hours per semester (P = 0.001).

Conclusion: Postgraduate education and incorporating DSM knowledge into undergraduate education ("Teach the Teacher") seems to play a key role in fundamentally training future dentists in this field.

Keywords: Dental curriculum; Dental education; Dental sleep medicine; Sleep medicine; Undergraduate student.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of number of teaching hours (in % in relation to the response rate) per semester at German dental schools: lecturers’ (n = 24) and students’ (n = 28) report
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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