engleski

Do graduating dental students fear their future patients on antithrombotic therapy?

Introduction: Patients undergoing oral antithrombotic therapy have a reduced ability to form clots. Consequently, invasive dental procedures in these patients might lead to heavier bleeding. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Croatian final-year dental students experience discomfort when treating patients undergoing antithrombotic therapy and if the discomfort would influence their decision to provide care to these patients independently after graduation. Participants and Methods: Final-year dental students from Zagreb, Split and Rijeka were invited to participate in the study by filling in our online questionnaire regarding, among other, self-assessed knowledge of these drugs, experience in managing patients on antithrombotics, and readiness to provide care to them independently. Results: We received 77 filled questionnaires. All students have been in contact with patients undergoing antithrombotic therapy. Despite a poor self-assessed knowledge of the latest drugs among antiplatelet agents and novel oral anticoagulants, students expressed a high degree of willingness to provide care to patients who use antithrombotics without fear or in spite of it. Thereby, all students consider that it is important to consult with patients' physician in all or in some cases. Lower levels of stress were associated with better knowledge of medical indications for antithrombotic therapy, greater self-confidence in performing specific dental procedures, and better knowledge of other factors that can be related to the risk of prolonged bleeding after dental procedures. Conclusions: Croatian final-year dental students mostly feel prepared to manage patients undergoing antithrombotic therapy on their own after graduation, whether it provokes anxiety or not.

anticoagulants ; dental students ; platelet aggregation inhibitors ; self-assessment

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