COVID-19-Related Challenges in Dental Education: Experiences From Brazil, the USA, and Australia

Abstract

To describe and compare how three dental schools from different countries (Australia, Brazil, and the USA) have managed experiences in dental education during the COVID-19 crisis. Material and Methods: It is a descriptive study reporting the experience that three distinct dental schools faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. They represent countries that adopted different measures to tackle the pandemic and were undergoing different stages of the disease. Results: After the WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal University of Paraíba suspended all on-site teaching, research, and service activities. For the return to teaching activities, the use of information and communications technology resources for distance learning was recommended. At the School of Dental Medicine (University of Pittsburgh), all research activities were suspended or, otherwise, could not be interrupted because of the employment of unique materials or supplies. When the pandemic started, Australia was one of the first countries to introduce strong regulations related to social distancing, travel restrictions, testing and tracking of infected patients. As such, the universities started to be closed from mid-March, cancelling all clinical and preclinical activities, maintaining online theoretical activities, such as seminars, lectures, and journal clubs. Conclusion: Numerous and critical difficulties have arisen as a result of the pandemic for individuals, communities and institutions that will have long-lasting effects. Our students face disruption to their education and career; our professional colleagues will be challenged rebuilding their practices, while staff at all Dental Schools are experiencing various hardships.

Perception of health and educational risks amongst dental students and educators in the era of COVID‐19

“…Thus, the implementation of distance education may be challenging to the faculty members with limited experience in this field and students who may be reluctant to accept such fundamental change in learning methods. The negative impact on dental education was reported by other studies 37,38 . The inability to deliver adequate teaching of clinical skills through distance education was believed to be the most important cause for such negative impact.…”

Global concerns of dental and oral health workers during COVID-19 outbreak: a scope study on the concerns and the coping strategies

“…Patients, children and adults, with intellectual and learning disabilities may have little cooperation necessitating extended visiting times. This contravenes the requirement to minimize patient contact in line with COVID recommendations/guidelines and may cause some types of hardship in rebuilding the practices [41].…”

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Academic Activity and Health Status among Romanian Medical Dentistry Students; A Cross-Sectional Study

“…In light of national COVID-19 infection-control recommendations, dental faculties had to suspend in-person instruction, and teaching activity was conducted online. Some researchers who focused on online dental education pointed out the rapid change adopted by dental faculties in many countries, such as the USA [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ], Germany [ 10 ], Italy [ 11 ], China [ 12 , 13 ], Chile [ 14 ], Brazil [ 8 , 15 , 16 ], Pakistan [ 17 ], Nepal [ 18 , 19 ], Indonesia [ 20 ], India [ 21 , 22 ], Jordan [ 23 ], Romania [ 24 , 25 , 26 ], Portugal [ 27 , 28 ], Cyprus [ 29 ], Australia [ 8 , 30 ], and Spain [ 31 ]. During the first year of the pandemic, the academic research teams additionally wanted to identify the differences between countries in what aspects of dental education were disrupted.…”