Conocimientos y percepciones de los estudiantes de Odontología en la atención clínica del paciente con Síndrome de Down en año 2022

Abstract

Introduction: Dental care is based on seeking a balance that provides the oral health of each patient individually, in those with Down syndrome the management is different since the disorder, the characteristics of their condition and the knowledge of the dentist above all to address it and give a comprehensive and inclusive treatment. Objective: To determine the knowledge and perception of Dentistry students from the sixth to the tenth semester at the Santo Tomás University in 2022, about clinical care in patients with Down syndrome. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional analytical observational study was carried out, through a survey of the Google Forms platform to 191 students, taking into account the sociodemographic variables, level of knowledge and perception that was validated by experts in the area. Its univariate analysis was through absolute frequencies as percentages and the bivariate with the Chi2 test or Fisher's exact test. Results: There was a higher frequency of female participants, with a minimum age of up to 21 years and sixth semester. Observing that 68.0% of the students had a regular level of knowledge and a perception of 94.7% was positive in patient care, on the bivariate analysis it only presented a statistically significant association between knowledge and perception and the sex variable with a value P<0.05. However, it was highlighted that women, younger students and sixth semester students had better results. Conclusions: There is a gap in the knowledge of the students surveyed because they do not recognize some special conditions in these patients according to their needs, but they present a good perception that can guarantee better dental care.