Knowledge and Clinical Preparedness of Dental Interns in Managing Hemophilic Patients During Tooth Extraction
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Abstract
Background: Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder that poses significant clinical challenges in dental practice, especially during invasive procedures such as tooth extraction. In Afghanistan, where the infrastructure for specialized hemophilia care is limited, understanding the preparedness of dental professionals for patient safety is critical.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, Herat University, Afghanistan, between June and August 2024. The study assessed hemophilia awareness, dental management knowledge, clinical experience, perceived barriers, and educational needs among 53 dental interns using a census method.
Results: The majority of participants (69.8%) correctly identified hemophilia as a bleeding disorder. The mean correct response rate on general knowledge of hemophilia was 49.8%. Knowledge on dental management, specifically pre-extraction counseling (84.9%) and post-extraction bleeding control (73.6%), showed a mean accuracy rate of just over 58%. In coagulation testing, 20.8% correctly selected the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Only 3.8% (n=2) of the 53 interns reported having previous clinical experience in managing hemophiliac patients, while 42.5% expressed little confidence in performing tooth extractions. The most commonly reported barriers were uncontrolled bleeding and lack of adequate equipment, and 56.6% reported facing multiple challenges simultaneously.
Conclusion: Dental interns demonstrated a moderate level of theoretical knowledge, but limited clinical experience and confidence in managing patients with hemophilia. These findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen undergraduate curricula, expand supervised clinical training, and promote interprofessional collaboration. Implementation of comprehensive educational interventions, including curriculum integration, workshops, and supervised clinical internships, can improve safe dental care in resource-limited settings and reduce preventable bleeding complications.
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References
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