title: Achieved competences in temporomandibular disorders/orofacial pain: a comparison between two dental schools in Europe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to study achieved competences in temporomandibular disorders (TMD)/orofacial pain (OP) at two universities by comparing student's knowledge and understanding, satisfaction with their education and confidence in their clinical competences of TMD/OP.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in collaboration between Malmö University, Sweden—which uses problem-based learning—and the University of Naples Federico II, Italy—which uses traditional educational methods. Final-semester dental students responded to a self-report questionnaire regarding their knowledge and understanding, interpretation of cases histories, clinical experience, satisfaction and confidence in clinical examination, management and treatment evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found between the students regarding knowledge and understanding. Eighty-seven per cent of the Malmö students and 96% of the Naples students met the criterion on achieved competence. Malmö students had a higher per cent of correct diagnoses than Naples students in the interpretation of case histories. Overall, Malmö students reported most clinical experience and higher confidence than Naple students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main findings were that students from Malmö and Naples were, similar in knowledge and understanding of TMD/OP and in satisfaction with their clinical competences. However, Malmö students perceived more confidence in clinical management of patients with TMD/OP. This may reflect that, besides the theoretical part of the programme, a sufficient level of clinical exposure to patients with TMD/OP is essential to gain competences in TMD/OP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Alsafi
authors.affiliation: Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Sciences, Section of Orthodontics and Clinical Gnathology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michelotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohrbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nilner
authors.affiliation: Department of Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.|Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: List
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental; D005157:Facial Pain; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012575:Schools, Dental; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
keywords: attitude; competences; questionnaire; temporomandibular disorders; undergraduate education