KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE AMONG ENDODONTIC POSTGRADUATES REGARDING CASE SELECTION FOR POST AND CORE - A QUESTIONNAIRE STUDY

Abstract

The restoration of teeth with severe coronal compromise often requires post and core restorations.The selection of such a case would require the clinician to have thorough knowledge and understanding of all the concepts involved in the treatment planning. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of the endodontic postgraduate students for case selection for post and core treatment, by the means of a close ended questionnaire. A online survey form, close ended questionnaire was distributed among endodontic postgraduate students- 100 respondents. Questions involving 7 knowledge, 6 attitude and 7 practice were presented. Results were obtained and depicted as graphs.The knowledge score was poor 52%, attitude score was 87% and was considerably better and practice score was 82%. Participants were of mean age groups of 25 to 28 years of age (87%) and 55% were 2nd year post graduates. Additionally a statistically significant correlation was observed between the Year of Post graduation of the respondents and the Responses to the Knowledge, attitude and practice based questions.(p<0.05). Majority of the second year post graduates had good knowledge, attitude and practice in regard to selection of cases for post and core. More Continuing Dental education programmes(CDE),Seminars and other educational programmes are required to strengthen the deficit in knowledge and improve treatment planning skills among postgraduate students of Endodontics.