Awareness Of Acromegaly Among Dental Students

Abstract

Acromegaly is an acquired disorder related to excessive production of growth hormone (GH) and characterized by progressive somatic disfigurement (mainly involving the face and extremities) and systemic manifestations. Due to insidious onset and slow progression, acromegaly is often diagnosed four to more than ten years after its onset. The main clinical features are broadened extremities (hands and feet), widened thickened and stubby fingers, and thickened soft tissue. The sample size included both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The aim of the study is to create awareness about acromegaly among dental students. The total participants were 100 in number. A set of questionnaires eliciting awareness on early childhood caries among dental students the survey was conducted in May 2020. The obtained data was transferred to an excel sheet and it was coded and analyzed using Spss software. In the results that we obtained out of 100 participants 40% of the participants were post graduates and 60% of the students were undergraduates. The obtained results were compared using Chi square test. Year of study and dental students were aware that acromegaly is most often caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone was compared, the p value obtained was statistically significant (p<0.05). Year of study and if students were aware that acromegaly patients with longstanding disease commonly present with striking physical characteristics was compared and the p value obtained was statistically significant (p<0.05).We found that most students were aware about acromegaly but however few had moderate knowledge and few still lacked proper awareness. Awareness among health professionals early recognition of symptoms and signs of acromegaly would reduce delays in time-to-diagnosis, enable better treatment and may improve outcomes for patients with acromegaly.