Evaluation of dental students’ attitude to elderly patients based on demographic data: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Comprehensive curricular modifications in dental education are essential to address the healthcare needs of the growing geriatric population. In this context, incorporating attitudes of dental students towards this complex patient group into the design of educational programs is...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07398-y |
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| author | Büşra Karabulut Gençer Ayşe Aslı Şenol Bengü Doğu Kaya Pınar Yılmaz Atalı Bilge Tarçın |
| author_facet | Büşra Karabulut Gençer Ayşe Aslı Şenol Bengü Doğu Kaya Pınar Yılmaz Atalı Bilge Tarçın |
| author_sort | Büşra Karabulut Gençer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Comprehensive curricular modifications in dental education are essential to address the healthcare needs of the growing geriatric population. In this context, incorporating attitudes of dental students towards this complex patient group into the design of educational programs is crucial for developing effective curricula. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of dental students towards elderly patients during their educational progress, which is a crucial period in the formation of dentists’ approaches to patients and treatment, and to consider the influence of demographic data in this process. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a two-part questionnaire was administered to 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th-year students at Marmara University, Faculty of Dentistry. The first part collected demographic data on age, gender, place of residence, presence of grandparents, and history of living with grandparents. The second part used the validated Ageism Scale for Dental Students (ASDS) with 5 items on a 6-point Likert scale. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for two- and multi-group comparisons, respectively, and the Spearman Correlation Test examined age-scale score relationships. A Type 1 error rate of 0.05 was applied. Results A total of 305 students participated, 204 (66.9%) of whom were female. The distribution across the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years was 35.1%, 32.1%, and 32.8%, respectively. The median ASDS score was 3.2. No significant differences in ASDS scores were found concerning age (p = 0.925), gender (p = 0.631), year of study (p = 0.581), place of residence (p = 0.282), presence of grandparents (p = 0.199), or history of living with grandparents (p = 0.859). Conclusion Demographic factors did not significantly affect ASDS scores. Larger, translated, and validated studies in different regions of Türkiye are needed. However, the neutral attitudes observed among students suggest that the content of geriatrics in dentistry education should be strengthened in a way that promotes positive attitudes towards elderly patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e7f731a29be74807adcd8a4c2eb2cd70 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-e7f731a29be74807adcd8a4c2eb2cd702025-08-20T02:03:36ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-05-0125111010.1186/s12909-025-07398-yEvaluation of dental students’ attitude to elderly patients based on demographic data: a cross-sectional studyBüşra Karabulut Gençer0Ayşe Aslı Şenol1Bengü Doğu Kaya2Pınar Yılmaz Atalı3Bilge Tarçın4Hamidiye Faculty of Dental Medicine, Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Health SciencesFaculty of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Marmara UniversityFaculty of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart UniversityFaculty of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Marmara UniversityFaculty of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Marmara UniversityAbstract Background Comprehensive curricular modifications in dental education are essential to address the healthcare needs of the growing geriatric population. In this context, incorporating attitudes of dental students towards this complex patient group into the design of educational programs is crucial for developing effective curricula. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of dental students towards elderly patients during their educational progress, which is a crucial period in the formation of dentists’ approaches to patients and treatment, and to consider the influence of demographic data in this process. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a two-part questionnaire was administered to 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th-year students at Marmara University, Faculty of Dentistry. The first part collected demographic data on age, gender, place of residence, presence of grandparents, and history of living with grandparents. The second part used the validated Ageism Scale for Dental Students (ASDS) with 5 items on a 6-point Likert scale. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for two- and multi-group comparisons, respectively, and the Spearman Correlation Test examined age-scale score relationships. A Type 1 error rate of 0.05 was applied. Results A total of 305 students participated, 204 (66.9%) of whom were female. The distribution across the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years was 35.1%, 32.1%, and 32.8%, respectively. The median ASDS score was 3.2. No significant differences in ASDS scores were found concerning age (p = 0.925), gender (p = 0.631), year of study (p = 0.581), place of residence (p = 0.282), presence of grandparents (p = 0.199), or history of living with grandparents (p = 0.859). Conclusion Demographic factors did not significantly affect ASDS scores. Larger, translated, and validated studies in different regions of Türkiye are needed. However, the neutral attitudes observed among students suggest that the content of geriatrics in dentistry education should be strengthened in a way that promotes positive attitudes towards elderly patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07398-yAgeismASDSGeriatric dentistryDental educationRestorative dentistry |
| spellingShingle | Büşra Karabulut Gençer Ayşe Aslı Şenol Bengü Doğu Kaya Pınar Yılmaz Atalı Bilge Tarçın Evaluation of dental students’ attitude to elderly patients based on demographic data: a cross-sectional study BMC Medical Education Ageism ASDS Geriatric dentistry Dental education Restorative dentistry |
| title | Evaluation of dental students’ attitude to elderly patients based on demographic data: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Evaluation of dental students’ attitude to elderly patients based on demographic data: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of dental students’ attitude to elderly patients based on demographic data: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of dental students’ attitude to elderly patients based on demographic data: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Evaluation of dental students’ attitude to elderly patients based on demographic data: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | evaluation of dental students attitude to elderly patients based on demographic data a cross sectional study |
| topic | Ageism ASDS Geriatric dentistry Dental education Restorative dentistry |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07398-y |
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