| Abstract [eng] |
Relevance of the problem and aim of the work. Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is a complex health condition affecting children, influencing respiratory function, physical development, and oral health. Early recognition of this condition is essential to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, and dentists can play a significant role in this process. Therefore, it is important to assess the ability of future dentists to recognize the interface between pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and changes in oral health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of Lithuanian and international fourth - and fifth - year students of the Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Odontology, Vilnius University, regarding the associations between pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and children’s oral health. Material and the methods. Based on the analysis of scientific literature and the open-access “OSAKA–KIDS” (The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Knowledge and Attitudes in Children) questionnaire, a four - part anonymous questionnaire consisting of 26 questions was developed. A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing the questionnaires to Lithuanian and international fourth - and fifth - year students of the Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Odontology, Vilnius University. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square (χ²) test, and Student’s t - test. Results. The results showed that the overall level of respondents’ knowledge regarding the associations between pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and oral health was 61,6%, corresponding to a moderate level of knowledge. The majority of students correctly identified the main symptoms, etiology, diagnostic and treatment principles of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, as well as its associations with oral health; however, nearly one-quarter (23%) of respondents demonstrated insufficient knowledge. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups according to study year, language of study, or whether respondents had attended classes on pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. However, it was observed that fifth-year students provided more correct answers (64,7%) than fourth-year students (56,5%), respondents studying in Lithuanian demonstrated better results (64,5%) than those studying in English (58,7%), and respondents who had attended classes on pediatric obstructive sleep apnea achieved higher scores (64,7%) than those who had not attended such classes (60,5%). The majority of respondents (90,8%) evaluated their knowledge as insufficient and expressed a need for additional education. Conclusions. The level of knowledge about the associations between pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and oral health among fourth - and fifth - year Lithuanian and international students is moderate; however, knowledge remains uneven, and a proportion of respondents demonstrate insufficient knowledge. A need for additional education was identified. |
