| |
|
|
| Year : 2016 | Volume
: 27
| Issue : 3 | Page : 262-267 |
|
| An institutional survey for knowledge-based and self-awareness assessment in temporomandibular joint disorders among dental students |
|
|
Sneha H Choudhary1, Lata M Kale1, Sunil S Mishra1, Sonia Sodhi1, Pooja B Muley1, Narayan Dutt Pandey2
1 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, C.S.M.S.S. Dental College and Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Click here for correspondence address and email
| Date of Submission | 20-Jan-2016 |
| Date of Decision | 23-Feb-2016 |
| Date of Acceptance | 29-Mar-2016 |
| Date of Web Publication | 13-Jul-2016 |
|
|
 |
|
 Abstract | | |
Context: Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) have been recognized as one of the most common causes of nondental orofacial pain. Various studies have been reported in literature regarding the relationship between prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMDs and gender, suggestive of female predilection; however, none of the studies have yet been reported to suggest the relationship between knowledge about temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and TMDs and self-awareness of its signs and symptoms.
Aim: To find a relationship between the level of knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and self-awareness of its signs and symptoms.
Settings and Design: This study was designed as an institutional survey. The study sample comprised 491 undergraduate and postgraduate (PG) students, consisting of 90 males and 401 females with age ranging between 18 and 32 years.
Subjects and Methods: Two sets of questionnaire were distributed among the students.
Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was performed with the help of Epi Info (TM) 3.5.3, descriptive statistical analysis, test of proportion, Chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance, Tukey's test, and knowledge index.
Results: It was observed that there was a gradual increase in the level of knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and self-awareness of its signs and symptoms from the 1st year to PG students.
Conclusions: A direct relationship exists between the level of knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and self-awareness of its signs and symptoms.
Keywords: Institutional survey, self-awareness, temporomandibular disorders, temporomandibular joint, temporomandibular joint disorders
How to cite this article:
Choudhary SH, Kale LM, Mishra SS, Sodhi S, Muley PB, Pandey ND. An institutional survey for knowledge-based and self-awareness assessment in temporomandibular joint disorders among dental students. Indian J Dent Res 2016;27:262-7 |
How to cite this URL:
Choudhary SH, Kale LM, Mishra SS, Sodhi S, Muley PB, Pandey ND. An institutional survey for knowledge-based and self-awareness assessment in temporomandibular joint disorders among dental students. Indian J Dent Res [serial online] 2016 [cited 2023 Mar 25];27:262-7. Available from: https://www.ijdr.in/text.asp?2016/27/3/262/186238 |
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) have been the subject of extensive interest since long time. Even today, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction is an enigmatic issue because of its multifactorial etiology. Patients visiting a dental clinic with a complaint of symptoms of TMDs are very rare; the reasons could be either complete absence of symptoms and if symptoms exist, it could be either due to patient's ignorance, confusion, excuses, or disability. Apart from disability, others could be attributed to lack of awareness, and lack of awareness can be related to lack of knowledge. Hence, we as investigators thought of finding a relationship between lack of knowledge and awareness. The best possible way for this was to do a survey of our undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students with the objective of assessing the knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and evaluation of self-awareness of its signs and symptoms among dental UG and PG students.
| Subjects and Methods | |  |
This study was designed as an institutional survey after discussing and receiving the permission from the Ethical Committee of the Institution. The study sample consisted of 491 students (90 males and 401 females) with their age ranging between 18 and 32 years. The sample comprised UG students: 1st year: 100; 2nd year: 82; 3rd year: 92; 4th year: 90; and interns: 80 and PG students: 48. Two sets of questionnaire were distributed among the students, which were prepared by consulting the staff of all the departments to validate it [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]. | Figure 1: Questionnaire regarding signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders
Click here to view |
Statistical analysis was performed with the help of Epi Info (TM) 3.5.3. Epi Info is a trademark of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to calculate the means with corresponding standard deviations (SDs). Test of proportion was used to find the standard normal deviation (Z) to compare the difference proportions, and Chi-square test was performed to find the associations. Furthermore, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's test was performed with the help of critical difference (CD) or least significant difference at 5% and 1% level of significance to compare the mean values. P ≤ 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant. In addition, knowledge index was used, which was developed as the model developed by Ray and Mandal.[1]
| Results | | |
The mean age of the respondents from the 1st year (mean ± SD) was 18.60 ± 0.78 years with range of 18–21 years and the median age was 18.0 years. The mean age of the respondents from the 2nd year (mean ± SD) was 19.53 ± 0.77 years with range of 18–22 years and the median age was 19.0 years. The mean age of the respondents from the 3rd year (mean ± SD) was 20.10 ± 0.98 years with range of 19–23 years and the median age was 20.0 years. The mean age of the respondents from final year (mean ± SD) was 21.43 ± 0.97 years with range of 19–23 years and the median age was 26.0 years. The mean age of the respondents from interns (mean ± SD) was 22.75 ± 1.21 years with range of 21–28 years and the median age was 23.0 years. The mean age of the respondents from PG (mean ± SD) was 26.50 ± 1.70 years with range of 23–32 years and the median age was 26.0 years [Table 1], [Figure 3] and [Figure 4].
Significant improvement of knowledge was found for the students of the 4th year and onward (P< 0.01) [Table 2] and [Figure 5].
ANOVA showed that there was significant difference in knowledge index of different years (F5,486 =12.14; P < 0.01). As per the CD, the mean knowledge index was significantly increased from the students of the 1st year to the students of PG (P< 0.01) [Table 3] and [Figure 6]. | Figure 6: Knowledge index regarding knowledge based assessment of the students
Click here to view |
Test of proportion showed that proportion of respondents with answer “Yes” for Q2, Q3, Q4, and Q8 regarding the presence of signs and symptoms of TMDs was significantly higher among interns and PG (Z = 8.59; P < 0.01) [Table 4] and [Figure 7].
Chi-square test showed that there was a significant association between prevalence of symptoms of noises within TMJ, pain in or around ears, and orthodontic treatment (P = 0.00001). Test of proportion supported that proportion of symptoms as well as orthodontic treatment increased with the age of the respondents (i.e., from among the 1st year students to PG students) [Table 5] and [Figure 8]. | Table 5: Association between answer regarding prevalence of symptoms of noises within temporomandibular joint, pain in or around ears, and orthodontic treatment
Click here to view |
 | Figure 8: Association between answer regarding prevalence of symptoms of noises within temporomandibular joint, pain in or around ears and orthodontic treatment
Click here to view |
It was observed that there was gradual increase in the level of knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and self-awareness of its signs and symptoms from the 1st year to PG students. Most prevalent symptom found among the 1st and 2nd year students was pain in and around ears, whereas among the 3rd year to PG students, it was joint sounds more than pain. Correlation between orthodontic treatment and presence of signs and symptoms of TMDs was also observed. On detailed analysis of knowledge-based assessment, it was observed that maximum number of wrong answers given was related to questions regarding soft tissue anatomy of TMJ and diagnostic investigations. Hence, more emphasis should be given on this.
| Discussion | | |
The term “TMDs” involves changes in masticatory muscles, TMJ, and its associated structures. These changes affect a large portion of the population which can be related to the presence of signs and symptoms such as masticatory muscle pain, TMJ pain, joint noises, restricted mouth opening, inadequate occlusion, auditory disorders, and headache.[2] TMD can affect patients of any age or gender with the presence of various signs and symptoms. However, the diagnosis of this clinical entity may be difficult due to the variation in the presence of symptoms among different patients and in the same patient at different times.[3] The etiology of TMD is multifactorial which may be related to various medical and dental conditions such as emotional tension, occlusal interferences, teeth loss, postural deviation, masticatory muscular dysfunction, internal and external changes in TMJ structure, and various associations of these factors.[4]
The identification of possible signs and symptoms of TMDs is a key to early diagnosis of this dysfunction and adequate treatment. A number of studies have been reported in literature on the prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMDs among populations from different parts of the world. The signs and symptoms of TMDs tend to occur more frequently in female after puberty and peak during the reproductive years, whereas they are smaller in number among children and adolescents and the elderly.[5] The most prevalent subjective symptoms present in a study by Bonjardimet al. were TMJ sounds (26.72%), headache (21.65%), tooth grinding (17.98%), and pain in the face or jaw regions (12.9%).[6] Conti et al. in 2003 also found TMJ sounds followed by headache to be the most commonly reported symptoms.[7] In the present study, the most common symptom found was TMJ pain followed by joint sounds. Melis and Abou-Atme [8] and Conti et al.[7] observed a prevalence rate of 27.2% and 20.5%, respectively, for tooth grinding.
Studies have also been reported regarding the relationship between prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMDs and gender, suggestive of female predilection. Bagis et al.[9] in their study concluded that signs and symptoms of TMD are present more frequently in females than males. However, the present study cannot comment on female preponderance due to unequal male and female ratio. The most common symptom was pain in both the genders. Various studies have been reported in literature suggesting the relationship between stress and TMDs, but none of the studies have yet been reported in literature to suggest the relationship between knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and self-awareness of its signs and symptoms. The present study was first to be conducted with the aim of finding a relationship between the level of knowledge about TMJ and TMDS and self-awareness of its signs and symptoms, which was designed as an institutional survey.
In the present study, the knowledge of the students was assessed using questionnaire. Out of 491 students, 92.55% were found to be free from the signs and symptoms of TMDs and the rest 7.45% were suffered from the signs and symptoms of TMDs. The most prevalent symptom in our study was found to be pain in and around ears among the 1st and 2nd year students, whereas among the 3rd year to PG students, it was joint sounds more than pain in and around ears. The reason for this could be lack of awareness about signs and symptoms of TMDs among the 1st and 2nd year students. The overall most common symptoms found were pain in and around ears (20.57%) followed by joint sounds (20.36%). Inger Egermark et al.[10] in their study concluded that patients with history of orthodontic treatment in childhood do not have an increased risk of developing signs or symptoms of TMDs later in life, and correlations between signs and symptoms of TMDs and different types of malocclusion are generally nonexistent or weak; however, in the present study, the correlation was found between history of orthodontic treatment done and presence of joint sounds in 84% of the cases as well as pain in and around ears in 83.16% of the cases.
Mottaghi et al.[11] and Kanehira et al.[12] in their study suggested the probable role of psychological factors such as stress in causation of TMDs. In the present study, as the academic educational level increased, there was gradual increase in the signs and symptoms of TMDs. However, this increase may be as a consequence of increased level of psychological stress with the increase in academic education level. Thus, further studies should be conducted with larger sample size, equal male to female ratio, and with more parameters to definitely conclude about the relationship between the level of knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and self-awareness about its signs and symptoms.
| Conclusion | | |
The parallel increase in the level of knowledge about TMJ and TMDs and self-awareness about its signs and symptoms may suggest that a direct relationship exist between the two. However, further studies should be conducted to explore more about this entity. Further, various measures should be integrated and motivated in our dental practice to increase the awareness about importance of TMJ and TMDs among patients as well as our fellow dentists, especially the general practitioners.
Acknowledgment
We acknowledge cooperation of all the individuals who participated in the study and Dr. S. S. Mandal for his help in statistics.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | | |
| 1. | Ray K, Mandal S. Knowledge about cancer in West Bengal – A pilot survey. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2004;5:205-12.  |
| 2. | Bezerra BP, Ribeiro AI, Farias Alcione B, Farias Alan B, Fontes L, Nascimento S, et al. Prevalence of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and different levels of anxiety among college students. Revista Dor 2012;13:1-6. |
| 3. | Ryalat S, Baqain ZH, Amin WM, Sawair F, Samara O, Badran DH. Prevalence of temporomandibular joint disorders among students of the University of Jordan. J Clin Med Res 2009;1:158-64. |
| 4. | de Oliveira AS, Dias EM, Contato RG, Berzin F. Prevalence study of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder in Brazilian college students. Braz Oral Res 2006;20:3-7. |
| 5. | Meisler JG, Pinn V, Kitt C, Le Resche L, Stohler C, Levine J. Chronic pain conditions in women. J Womens Health 1999;8:313-20. |
| 6. | Bonjardim LR, Gavião MB, Pereira LJ, Castelo PM, Garcia RC. Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in adolescents. Braz Oral Res 2005;19:93-8. |
| 7. | Conti A, Freitas M, Conti P, Henriques J, Janson G. Relationship between signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders and orthodontic treatment: A cross-sectional study. Angle Orthod 2003;73:411-7. |
| 8. | Melis M, Abou-Atme YS. Prevalence of bruxism awareness in a Sardinian population. Cranio 2003;21:144-51. |
| 9. | Bagis B, Ayaz EA, Turgut S, Durkan R, Özcan M. Gender difference in prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders: A retrospective study on 243 consecutive patients. Int J Med Sci 2012;9:539-44. |
| 10. | Egermark I, Magnusson T, Carlsson GE. A 20-year follow-up of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders and malocclusions in subjects with and without orthodontic treatment in childhood. Angle Orthod 2003;73:109-15. |
| 11. | Mottaghi A, Razavi SM, Pozveh EZ, Jahangirmoghaddam M. Assessment of the relationship between stress and temporomandibular joint disorder in female students before university entrance exam (Konkour exam). Dent Res J (Isfahan) 2011;8 Suppl 1:S76-9. |
| 12. | Kanehira H, Agariguchi A, Kato H, Yoshimine S, Inoue H. Association between stress and temporomandibular disorder. J Jpn Prosthodont Soc 2008;52:375-80. |
Correspondence Address:
Sneha H Choudhary
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, C.S.M.S.S. Dental College and Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.186238
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5], [Figure 6], [Figure 7], [Figure 8]
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5] |
|
| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
Assessment of Knowledge and Self-Awareness about Temporomandibular Joint Disorders among Dental Students |
|
| Mohammed Najmuddin, Afnan Y. Shabi, Amna M. Alqadi, Reem N. Moafa, Safeena Abdul Khader Saheb, Maisah A. Attafi, Fatimah B. Khormi, Aziza M. Alqadi, Haifa F. Bokamani, Abdullah J. Hakami | | European Journal of General Dentistry. 2022; 11(03): 189 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 2 |
Otological manifestation of temporomandibular joint disorder in Ekiti, a sub-Saharan African country |
|
| Waheed Atilade Adegbiji, Gabriel Toye Olajide, Anthony Tosin Agbesanwa, Omotola Oluwaseyi Banjo | | Journal of International Medical Research. 2021; 49(2): 0300060521 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 3 |
Intelligent system for English translation using automated knowledge base |
|
| Shengqin Bi, Andino Maseleno, Xiaohui Yuan, Valentina E. Balas | | Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems. 2020; 39(4): 5057 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Article Access Statistics | | | Viewed | 10180 | | | Printed | 519 | | | Emailed | 1 | | | PDF Downloaded | 203 | | | Comments | [Add] | | | Cited by others | 3 | | |
|
|
Users online:
