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Table 1 Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire with participant responses pre and post intervention

From: Bridging gaps in oral health education in a medical school in the United States: a pilot study

Question (Answer)

Pretest % Correct (# Correct/Total)

Posttest % Correct (# Correct/Total)

What is the most common chronic disease of childhood? (Dental caries)

43.2 (16/37)

94.6 (35/37)

Which condition is associated with periodontal disease? (Preterm labor)

5.4 (2/37)

59.5 (22/37)

Which of the following medications is linked to gingival hyperplasia? (Phenytoin)

94.6 (35/37)

100 (37/37)

Which class of medications is NOT generally associated with decreased salivary flow? (Antibiotics)

70.3 (26/37)

81.1 (30/37)

A patient undergoing chemotherapy for cancer is at risk for which of these oral complications due to the effects of chemotherapy? (Oral mucositis)

73.0 (27/37)

70.3 (26/37)

Which of the following infections is NOT potentially caused by direct extension from a dental source? (Otitis media)

29.7 (11/37)

73.0 (27/37)

What is the suggested common pathway linking chronic periodontitis and conditions such as diabetes, coronary artery disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes? (Inflammation)

73.0 (27/37)

94.6 (35/37)

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism for inter-relationships between oral and systemic disease? (Iatrogenic)

64.9 (24/37)

78.4 (29/37)

What is Early Childhood Caries? (An infectious chronic disease)

2.7 (1/37)

59.5 (22/37)

What is a risk factor for developing Early Childhood Caries? (Caries in siblings or caretakers)

73.0 (27/37)

94.6 (35/37)

Periodontal disease can be clinically distinguished from gingivitis in which of the following ways? (Enlarged pockets at the gum base)

48.7 (18/37)

86.5 (32/37)

Which of the following is NOT a common site for oral cancers? (Hard palate)

73.0 (27/37)

94.6 (35/37)

Which of the following is most likely to lead to poorer oral health in the elderly? (All of the above: Alzheimer’s dementia, coronary artery disease, hypothyroidism)

73.0 (27/37)

73.0 (27/37)

Risk factors for adult caries may include all the following EXCEPT: (A vegetarian diet)

91.9 (34/37)

89.2 (33/37)

Which of the following is NOT a normal age-related tooth change? (Root caries)

78.4 (29/37)

91.9 (34/37)

Which of the following statements concerning xerostomia, or dry mouth, is NOT true? (Xerostomia is rarely a problem for patients wearing complete dentures.)

100 (37/37)

97.3 (36/37)

Which of the following has been implicated in the development of recurrent aphthous ulcers? (Trauma)

13.5 (5/37)

59.5 (22/37)

What is a full complement of adult teeth? (32)

70.3 (26/37)

91.9 (34/37)

A caregiver asks you how many teeth her 3 year old child should have. What would you respond? (20)

43.2 (16/37)

89.2 (33/37)

At what age do teeth typically begin to erupt in children? (3–9 months)

37.8 (14/37)

48.7 (18/37)

Oral cancer is most common in which area of the mouth? (Posterolateral tongue)

51.4 (19/37)

75.7 (28/37)

Mean Score

57.6

81.1

Mean Improvement (95% CI, p-value)

23.4% (19.7% to 27.1%, p < 0.001)

Effect Size (Cohen’s d)

2.37

  1. The questions were adapted from questions supplied in the SFL curriculum implementation toolkit. Results were analyzed using a matched pair student’s t-test with statistical significant defined as p < 0.05. n = 37