Perceptions of dental students towards online education during the covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

PurposeThis study evaluated the usage habits, attitudes, and perceptions of undergraduate dental students toward distance (online) learning and identified variables related to those attitudes. Materials and MethodsThe study included 1,605 undergraduate dental students who participated voluntarily. The data collection tool consisted of a distance learning attitude scale, a questionnaire on personal information, and open-ended questions. The perceptions of dental students to distance education according to the year and type of dental school they attended were evaluated. ResultsMost students expressed that distance learning in dental courses was not as effective as traditional face-to-face education (59.1%, n=949). While students studying at state universities had a more negative view of distance education, the satisfaction scores of the first-year students were found to be significantly lower than the other students (p < 0.05). ConclusionDental students were generally unhappy with the interruption of traditional education caused by COVID-19 and having to continue their education online. However, under the circumstances, they saw it as an advantage allowing them to continue their education and avoid a complete suspension.

Quality, Effectiveness and Outcome of Blended Learning in Dental Education during the COVID Pandemic: Prospects of a Post-Pandemic Implementation

“…This concurs with the results by Varthis & Anderson among dental students where positive perceptions of BL were reported [36]. In fact, numerous studies in the literature reported genrally positive attitudes of online tutorials among dental students [9,[20][21][22]. This indicates that BL has a strong potential to be the accepted method of education among dental students in the future.…”

“…The difference was statistically significant (p-value < 0.05). Comparatively, Gungor et al found that online learning was more preferred by the senior students and attributed that to the fact that younger students may have difficulty understanding and following online lessons as they have not acquired enough background in the field [9].…”

“…It has been suggested that combining e-learning with a traditional lecture style complements traditional teaching techniques and may improve students' overall learning experiences by addressing differences in students' learning styles [8]. With the incorporation of asynchronous online education, students learn at their own pace and have more control over the learning process [9]. This self-regulated learning in online courses has been associated with higher academic achievement [10].…”

“…BL has been used successfully and effectively in the various dental deciplines such as endodontics [13], orthodontics [14], periodontics [15] and application of local anesthesia [16]. However, variable students' perceptions and academic performance have been reported across studies [9,[17][18][19][20][21][22]. This variation in student's responses could be attributed to the variable levels of school preparedness and degree of implementation of online learning technologies in dental education.…”

Commentary: Perceptions of Clinical Dental Students Toward Online Education During the COVID-19 Crisis: An Egyptian Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Obviously, it would have been useful to specify how many dental institutions exist in Egypt and how many dental clinical students were targeted in this study to better appreciate the representativeness of the sample. In Turkey for example, 65 dental schools currently exist, involving 13 private and 52 state universities (Sarialioglu Gungor et al, 2021 ), while in Tunisia there is only one public dental faculty for the country. The total number of dental faculties in a country should be mentioned to better evaluate the study.…”