Knowledge level assessment of Dentistry undergraduate students about medical emergencies

Medical emergencies are unpredictable and the dental surgeon must be prepared to recognize and act upon these cases. However, there seems to be insecurity before such situations, probably due to difficulties in diagnosing and conducting these events. Thus, this study is justified by the need to assess the knowledge of dental students before medical emergencies. The aim of this research was to evaluate the knowledge level of undergraduate dentistry students about medical emergencies. This quantitative, descriptive and exploratory research was performed with students from the Dentistry Course at the Dentistry School of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, from the sixth to the tenth course terms. Data collection was accomplished through the application of a test with nine objective questions on medical emergencies. The data were analysed and the results were expressed as percentages, means and standard deviations. The results showed that out of a sample of 100 students, 21% men and 79% women, 99% are interested in participating in a medical emergency course; 4% consider themselves prepared to act in these cases, 10% consider themselves capable of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 79% obtained a score considered as insufficient in the test. It was concluded that the students did not seem prepared to act in cases of medical emergencies. Descriptors: Education, Dental. Dental Offices. Emergencies. Knowledge level assessment of Dentistry undergraduate students about medical emergencies Revista da ABENO • 21(1):1209, 2021 – DOI: 10.30979/rev.abeno.v21i1.1209 2