Case-Based Diagnostic Performance, Challenges and Tool Development in Identifying Orofacial Conditions Among Pediatric Dentists: A Mixed-Methods Study.
- 1Pediatric Dentistry Department, Ministry of Health, Madina 42351, Saudi Arabia.
- 2Pediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
- 3Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study assessed diagnostic performance, explored diagnostic barriers, and developed an assessment tool for case-based diagnostic performance and associated challenges specific to pediatric OFCs. Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods study was conducted. The qualitative phase included semi-structured interviews with Saudi pediatric dentists, selected using criterion (purposive) sampling until thematic saturation was reached. Findings informed the development and validation of a structured questionnaire, targeting pediatric dentists from various regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire assessed case-based diagnostic performance, appropriate management, and diagnostic barriers. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS. Findings from both phases were triangulated. Results: Thirteen interviews were conducted with pediatric dentists (specialists and consultants). Themes and subthemes, including key barriers, were identified. Among 180 pediatric dentists who answered the questionnaire, diagnostic performance was high, with mean diagnosis and management scores of 9.03 ± 1.16 and 8.84 ± 1.32, respectively. Triangulation demonstrated convergence regarding the importance of clinical exposure and interdisciplinary collaboration in improving diagnostic competence. Conclusions: The study developed a valid assessment tool specific to pediatric OFCs in Saudi Arabia, which may have limited generalizability to other countries. Pediatric dentists demonstrated high diagnostic performance and management competency, while key diagnostic barriers highlighted the need for enhanced hands-on training and interdisciplinary collaboration to further support accurate diagnosis and effective management of pediatric OFCs.
Related
- Diagnostic performance of calculated serum osmolarity versus clinical impression for identifying dehydration in older hospitalized patients.
- Identifying subgroups with decreased performance on malaria rapid diagnostic tests in Malawi
- Diagnostic Performance of CBC-Derived Inflammatory Ratios (SII, NLR, PLR) for Identifying Biopsy-Proven Microscopic Gut Inflammation Despite Normal Endoscopy.
- Emergency Department Pediatric Early Warning System for Identifying Resuscitation-Defined Critical Illness in Children: A Prospective Diagnostic Classification Study in Vietnam
- Incremental diagnostic value of coronary CT angiography-derived pericoronary adipose tissue radiomics for identifying hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis
BibTeX
@article{sait2026casebased,
title = {{Case-Based Diagnostic Performance, Challenges and Tool Development in Identifying Orofacial Conditions Among Pediatric Dentists: A Mixed-Methods Study.}},
author = {Amani Sait and Nada O Bamashmous and Khlood Baghlaf and Khalid Aljohani and Rahaf Sahhaf},
journal = {Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/diagnostics16193218},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42882373},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Case-Based Diagnostic Performance, Challenges and Tool Development in Identifying Orofacial Conditions Among Pediatric Dentists: A Mixed-Methods Study.
AU - Amani Sait
AU - Nada O Bamashmous
AU - Khlood Baghlaf
AU - Khalid Aljohani
AU - Rahaf Sahhaf
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/04
JO - Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/diagnostics16193218
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42882373
AB - Background/Objectives: This study assessed diagnostic performance, explored diagnostic barriers, and developed an assessment tool for case-based diagnostic performance and associated challenges specific to pediatric OFCs. Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods study was conducted. The qualitative phase included semi-structured interviews with Saudi pediatric dentists, selected using criterion (purposive) sampling until thematic saturation was reached. Findings informed the development and validation of a structured questionnaire, targeting pediatric dentists from various regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire assessed case-based diagnostic performance, appropriate management, and diagnostic barriers. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS. Findings from both phases were triangulated. Results: Thirteen interviews were conducted with pediatric dentists (specialists and consultants). Themes and subthemes, including key barriers, were identified. Among 180 pediatric dentists who answered the questionnaire, diagnostic performance was high, with mean diagnosis and management scores of 9.03 ± 1.16 and 8.84 ± 1.32, respectively. Triangulation demonstrated convergence regarding the importance of clinical exposure and interdisciplinary collaboration in improving diagnostic competence. Conclusions: The study developed a valid assessment tool specific to pediatric OFCs in Saudi Arabia, which may have limited generalizability to other countries. Pediatric dentists demonstrated high diagnostic performance and management competency, while key diagnostic barriers highlighted the need for enhanced hands-on training and interdisciplinary collaboration to further support accurate diagnosis and effective management of pediatric OFCs.
SN - 2075-4418
ER -