Competence of Senior Dental Students in Medical Emergencies: An OSCE-based Survey

Background: Medical emergencies may occur before, during, or after dental treatment and range from relatively benign events to life‑threatening conditions. This study used an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) to assess senior dental students’ competence in managing medical emergencies. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, sixty senior dental students at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences were assessed during the 2023–2024 academic year. Data were collected at OSCE stations using a two-part questionnaire and the required equipment. Part 1 recorded demographic characteristics (age, gender, grade point average [GPA], place of residence, and prior attendance at cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] or basic life support [BLS] courses). Part 2 comprised author-developed items to evaluate competence in managing medical emergencies. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: Based on their performance, students were categorized into three groups: good (scores above nine), fair (scores between five and nine), and poor (scores below five). Overall, 27 students (45%) were rated as poor, 18 (30%) as fair, and 15 (25%) as good. Performance was significantly associated with academic standing (p = 0.039) and prior attendance at CPR/BLS courses (p = 0.043). Conclusion: Senior dental students demonstrated limited knowledge and skills in managing medical emergencies. Additional basic life support training may improve preparedness among dental students and practicing dentists for life-threatening events in dental settings.