Evaluating dental students’ understanding of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patients
Abstract Background Advancements in head and neck cancer treatments have improved survival rates, but complications in the mouth’s soft and hard tissues can hinder treatment effectiveness or cause interruptions. Dentists play a critical role in managing these oral complications, helping to enhance t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07698-3 |
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| author | Faisal Mehsen Alali Mohammad Zakaria Nassani Bassel Tarakji Nasser Raqe Alqhtani Ali Robaian Abdullah Saad Alqahtahni Faisal S. Alhedyan Abdullah bin nabhan Adel Alenzi Khalid Ayidh Alqahtani Ali Alrafedah Maram Alagla Mohammed A. S. Abuelqomsan Belal Alsalhani Anas B. Alsalhani |
| author_facet | Faisal Mehsen Alali Mohammad Zakaria Nassani Bassel Tarakji Nasser Raqe Alqhtani Ali Robaian Abdullah Saad Alqahtahni Faisal S. Alhedyan Abdullah bin nabhan Adel Alenzi Khalid Ayidh Alqahtani Ali Alrafedah Maram Alagla Mohammed A. S. Abuelqomsan Belal Alsalhani Anas B. Alsalhani |
| author_sort | Faisal Mehsen Alali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Advancements in head and neck cancer treatments have improved survival rates, but complications in the mouth’s soft and hard tissues can hinder treatment effectiveness or cause interruptions. Dentists play a critical role in managing these oral complications, helping to enhance the overall success of cancer treatments. The aim of this study is to serve as a foundation to assess the knowledge base of senior dental students and dental interns in Saudi Arabi regarding their preparedness to manage oral health challenges in cancer patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online Google Forms questionnaire targeting a sample of dental students of the fourth and fifth year as well as dental interns (n = 506), from both private and public universities in Saudi Arabia. Results Among the 506 participants, 53.6% demonstrated good knowledge of oral care and health management for cancer patients. Predictors of good knowledge included higher levels of awareness, with females showing greater knowledge of oral care/health management for cancer patients and dental interns having better knowledge of oral complications from cancer therapy (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found between students from public and private universities regarding their knowledge of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patients. Conclusion Interns demonstrated better knowledge than senior dental students regarding oral complications in cancer therapy. This study revealed a lack of sufficient knowledge among participants about oral care management for cancer patients, emphasizing the clear need to develop more effective theoretical and practical educational curricula to address these gaps. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c2014fadf57e47f198f03d267e6dd4b8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-c2014fadf57e47f198f03d267e6dd4b82025-08-20T04:03:07ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-07-0125111010.1186/s12909-025-07698-3Evaluating dental students’ understanding of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patientsFaisal Mehsen Alali0Mohammad Zakaria Nassani1Bassel Tarakji2Nasser Raqe Alqhtani3Ali Robaian4Abdullah Saad Alqahtahni5Faisal S. Alhedyan6Abdullah bin nabhan7Adel Alenzi8Khalid Ayidh Alqahtani9Ali Alrafedah10Maram Alagla11Mohammed A. S. Abuelqomsan12Belal Alsalhani13Anas B. Alsalhani14Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry Prince, Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityJubail General HospitalDepartment of Dentistry, Vision CollegesAbstract Background Advancements in head and neck cancer treatments have improved survival rates, but complications in the mouth’s soft and hard tissues can hinder treatment effectiveness or cause interruptions. Dentists play a critical role in managing these oral complications, helping to enhance the overall success of cancer treatments. The aim of this study is to serve as a foundation to assess the knowledge base of senior dental students and dental interns in Saudi Arabi regarding their preparedness to manage oral health challenges in cancer patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online Google Forms questionnaire targeting a sample of dental students of the fourth and fifth year as well as dental interns (n = 506), from both private and public universities in Saudi Arabia. Results Among the 506 participants, 53.6% demonstrated good knowledge of oral care and health management for cancer patients. Predictors of good knowledge included higher levels of awareness, with females showing greater knowledge of oral care/health management for cancer patients and dental interns having better knowledge of oral complications from cancer therapy (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found between students from public and private universities regarding their knowledge of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patients. Conclusion Interns demonstrated better knowledge than senior dental students regarding oral complications in cancer therapy. This study revealed a lack of sufficient knowledge among participants about oral care management for cancer patients, emphasizing the clear need to develop more effective theoretical and practical educational curricula to address these gaps.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07698-3Oral radiotherapy complicationsOral neoplasmsHealth knowledgePatient careDental students |
| spellingShingle | Faisal Mehsen Alali Mohammad Zakaria Nassani Bassel Tarakji Nasser Raqe Alqhtani Ali Robaian Abdullah Saad Alqahtahni Faisal S. Alhedyan Abdullah bin nabhan Adel Alenzi Khalid Ayidh Alqahtani Ali Alrafedah Maram Alagla Mohammed A. S. Abuelqomsan Belal Alsalhani Anas B. Alsalhani Evaluating dental students’ understanding of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patients BMC Medical Education Oral radiotherapy complications Oral neoplasms Health knowledge Patient care Dental students |
| title | Evaluating dental students’ understanding of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patients |
| title_full | Evaluating dental students’ understanding of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patients |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating dental students’ understanding of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating dental students’ understanding of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patients |
| title_short | Evaluating dental students’ understanding of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patients |
| title_sort | evaluating dental students understanding of oral complications and care management for head and neck cancer patients |
| topic | Oral radiotherapy complications Oral neoplasms Health knowledge Patient care Dental students |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07698-3 |
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