Impact of war on foreign students' satisfaction with quality of dental and medical education in Ukraine

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in foreign students' satisfaction with the quality of dental and medical education considering the impact of the war in Ukraine. The present study was organized in the form of a questionnaire-based survey among 300 foreign students of Medical Faculty and Faculty of Dentistry in Ukraine. The questionnaire was ad mistered via Google form in a multiple-choice, closed-ended format. Students' satisfaction with environment safety and comfort (p < 0.05) and with the collaborative learning offered (p < 0.05) statistically decreased during the war. Sixty percent of the variability in the mean of students' satisfaction with the quality of education during the war could be explained by the satisfaction rate before the war. The need of migration from Ukraine had a stronger inverse correlation with education quality (r = -0.58) than the fact of the war itself (r = -0.32). The war in Ukraine has had a negative impact on the educational process of foreign medical and dental students, even though the quality of education was considered by students to be as high as before and during the war. The personal effort of professors, the quality of study materials, and adequate technical support could potentially overcome the negative impact of the war on student satisfaction with the quality of medical and dental education by the online mode, if the academic medium could be protected from the direct impact of the war or if the influence of the war within the university community could be minimized.

Does the Use of Surface Electromyography Could Improve Quality of Life among Patients Rehabilitated by Mandibular Overdentures on Different Attachments?

Abstract Objective: To analyze and compare changes of quality of life parameter among dental patients rehabilitated by the implant-supported overdentures with different attachment systems. Material and Methods: Forty-eight patients were recruited as a study cohort. The implant placement procedure was based on the results obtained by CBCT scanning and individualized surgical templates manufactured for correct implant placement. Each individual received two k3Pro Implants (Sure Type with 4.0 or 4.5 mm in diameter) at the intraforaminal area due to standard protocol of implantation provided by the manufacturer under local anesthesia. All patients were distributed between two groups based on the fact of using either Locator- or ball-attachments. Rank correlation was measured using Spearman correlation coefficient, while linear correlation was evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: No statistically meaningful differences were noted regarding patients' distribution among groups considering age (p>0.05) and gender (p>0.05). Provided patient-level analysis demonstrated that increase of conventional full denture service time was positively correlated with escalation of OHIP-EDENT scores. The most prominent inter-correspondences were noted specifically between longevity of denture service and elevation of scores within "Functional limitation" (r=0.61; p<0.05), "Physical pain" (r=0.51; p<0.05) and "Physical disability" (r=0.57; p<0.05) subdomains. No statistically argumented regressions were noted between increase tendency of OHIP-EDENT scores and gender (p>0.05) or age (p>0.05) parameters. Conclusion: Significant improvements of quality of life measured with OHIP-EDENT were noted for both types of attachments compared to the pre-treatment situation independently of additionally provided surface electromyography-based alignment.

Association Between Saliva Quantity and Content Parameters with Caries Intensity Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Subcarpathian Children

Abstract Objective: To evaluate saliva quantity and content parameters among children of 7 and 12 years old, who permanently living on the territory of Subcarpathia with the registered territory-associated fluoride deficiency in the water, and their association with the caries status of pediatric patients. Material and Methods: The study sample was formed of 48 children (22 of 7 years old and 26 of 12 years old). The content of calcium in the oral liquid was determined by the o-cresolphthalein complexone method. Estimation of concentration rate and fluoride activity in the oral liquid was carried out by using the ion-selective electrode ELIS-131 F and ionometer EV-74. The content of inorganic phosphorus in saliva was determined using the phosphorus reaction with molybdic acid Results: Among all study samples, 18.8% were registered with low caries intensity level (DMF = 1.55 ± 0.16), 33.3% with moderate caries intensity level (DMF = 3.94 ± 0.29), and 47.9% with high caries intensity level (DMF = 9.05 ± 1.11). During the comparison of calcium content and mineralization coefficient values between children with low and high caries intensity levels registered difference was statistically significant (p<0.05), while for salivary flow rate parameter such difference was no significant (p>0.05). Between children with normal salivary flow rate, and children with a lowered salivary flow rate there was no statistical difference in such parameters as fluoride concentration, calcium content, phosphorus content and calcium-phosphorus balance (p>0.05) Conclusion: Caries intensity levels were more statistically associated with parameters of calcium content in saliva and related mineralization coefficient, rather than with the average salivary flow rate.