Diagnóstico da condição pulpar por graduandos de odontologia: análise do conhecimento e construção de ebook

Abstract

Pulp and Periradicular Diagnosis (PPD) is a fundamental step in clinical decisionmaking. This dissertation was structured around two objectives: (1) to assess the knowledge of Brazilian dental students regarding pulp sensitivity tests (PST), their self-reported ability to perform different semiotechnical resources (SR), and the frequency with which these SRs are used in clinical scenarios involving asymptomatic teeth; and (2) to develop na informative ebook to support undergraduate students and professionals in PPD. To achieve the first objective, an online questionnaire was administered, consisting of four sections: (1) sample characterization, frequency of endodontic emergency care, and self-assessment of knowledge regarding PSTs; (2) knowledge about PSTs (cold, heat, and electric) – QC_PST; (3) attitudes related to performing different SRs; and (4) practices and the use of SRs in clinicals cenarios involving asymptomatic teeth. The knowledge section included nine QC_PST questions, with each correct answer assigned a score, resulting in a possible total ranging from 0 to 9. The average number of correct answers in the QC_PST was used to assess knowledge. The association between knowledge and academic or demographic variables was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p<0.05). Among the 628 participating students, 51.3% considered their knowledge of PSTs to be good. However, the average number of correct answers in the QC_PST was 3.43±1.72. No statistically significant association was found be tween knowledge and the studied variables. The SRs that students reported being most proficient in were periapical radiographs (99.7%), mobility tests (98.2%), and cold sensitivity tests (97.6%), while only 6.2% feltcapable of performing electrical tests. The most frequently reported practices in the clinical scenarios presented were conducting periapical radiographs and collecting pain history, where as PSTs were less commonly used. To fulfill the second objective, an e-book was developed covering to picssuch as the concept of diagnosis, steps for diagnosing pulp conditions, instructions for performing PSTs, and the main characteristics and responses of pulp and periradicular diseases. The content was validated by five dentists specializing in Endodontics, Restorative Dentistry, or Prosthodontics, and a face validation was conducted with the target audience. The e-book was evaluated using the Clear Communication Index (CIC-CDC), achieving a score of 92 out of 100, which is considered excellent. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that although students express confidence in their knowledge of PSTs, their actual level of knowledge is relatively low. Furthermore, the use of PSTs does not appear to be a common practice among students. Given these results, the e-book can be regarded as a valuable tool for assisting both academics and professionals in the process of pulp and periradicular diagnosis.