Knowledge and practices of dentists regarding MERS-CoV. A cross-sectional survey in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:   To assess virus knowledge among dentists in Saudi Arabia and to identify factors associated with recommended management practices of patients. Method: A structured questionnaire was distributed to dentists in major Saudi cities between September 2016 and December 2017. The questionnaire investigated participants' knowledge about Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) transmission, consequences, patient identification and history taking practices.

Carious lesions of permanent molars and oral health practices of parents and peers in Saudi male adolescents.

To assess the association between carious lesions in first and second permanent molars in adolescents and their parents' and peers' oral health practices. Methods: This cross-sectional study of 12-15 year-old male adolescents was conducted in  Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on February 2016. Data collection included dental examination to measure carious lesions and plaque.

Agreement in Scoring Preclinical Dental Procedures: Impact on Grades and Instructor-Related Determinants.

The aims of this study were to assess agreement among instructors in scoring preclinical dental procedures, the effect of this agreement on grades, and factors associated with agreement and grades differences. Twenty-six instructors from five clinical specialties participated in a scoring exercise at the College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, in January 2015. Instructors blindly and independently scored 19-20 anonymous students' procedures, filling forms with rating scales as used in preclinical lab sessions.

Predicting academic performance of dental students using perception of educational environment.

Greater emphasis on student-centered education means that students' perception of their educational environment is important. The ultimate proof of this importance is its effect on academic performance. The aim of this study was to assess the predictability of dental students' grades as indicator of academic performance through their perceptions of the educational environment.

Comparison of three evidence-based practice learning assessment methods in dental curricula.

Incorporating evidence-based practice (EBP) training in dental curricula is now an accreditation requirement for dental schools, but questions remain about the most effective ways to assess learning outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare three assessment methods for EBP training and to assess their relation to students' overall course grades. Participants in the study were dental students from two classes who received training in appraising randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews in 2013 at the University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

The prevalence, causes, and relativity of dental anxiety in adult patients to irregular dental visits.

Objective: To assess the frequency and causes of dental anxiety and their relation to irregular dental visits among adult dental patients.

Methods: The Dental Anxiety Question (DAQ) included within a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 1025 patients attending the Interns' Dental Clinics in the Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from March 2012 to February 2013. A cross-sectional study design was used.