COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on dental education: digitalization - progress or regress? Example of an online hands-on course

Oetter N, Möst T, Weber M, Buchbender M, Rohde M, Foerster Y, Bauerschmitz C, Röschmann N, Adler W, Rau A, Meyerolbersleben M, Kesting MR, Lutz R (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

BMC Medical Education BioMed Central

Book Volume: 22

Pages Range: 591-

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03638-7

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the accompanying contact restrictions, a new challenge arose for dental education. Despite the limited overall situation, it must be ensured that, in addition to theoretical content, practical skills in particular continue to be taught. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and implement an online hands-on course for dental students that ensures practical training, even during the pandemic. METHODS: The newly developed course was held from April 2020 to March 2021. A total of six groups (each consisting of approximately 40-50 students) took part in the course. The participating students were in their 3rd, 4th or 5th year of study. The course taught theoretical basics (via an online platform) and promoted the learning of practical/surgical techniques on models such as bananas, pork bellies, or chicken thighs with live demonstrations (via ZOOM) and interactive post-preparation by students at home (and in a rotating small group of 3-7 students on site). Student self-evaluation (at the beginning and end of the course) and course evaluation were performed using questionnaires. The learning success was analyzed (through self-evaluations) using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (significance level alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: Concerning students´ self-evaluations, the theoretical knowledge, general surgical skills (such as surgical instrument handling), and specific surgical skills (such as performing a kite flap) improved during the course, with significant results (p < 0.001 for each). About 60% of the students rated the course overall as excellent (grades 9 or 10 on a Likert scale of 1 to 10). The technical implementation of the course was rated with a median of 9 (= very good, on a Likert scale of 1 to 10). 38.5% described the applicability of the skills learned for their later professional life as extremely good. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this work suggest that, within the limitations of this study, the introduced concept of an online hands-on course could be an appropriate form of teaching practical dental skills, even during a pandemic. Further research is needed in the field of digital education for dental students.

Authors with CRIS profile

Nicolai Oetter Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Tobias Möst Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Manuel Weber Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Mayte Buchbender Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Maximilian Rohde Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Yannick Foerster Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Charlotte Bauerschmitz Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Nico Röschmann Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Werner Adler Lehrstuhl für Biometrie und Epidemiologie Marion Meyerolbersleben Zentrum für Lehr-/Lernforschung, -innovation und Transfer, Abteilung ILI Marco Rainer Kesting Lehrstuhl für Zahnmedizin, insbesondere Mund-, Kiefer-, und Gesichtschirurgie Rainer Lutz Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery

Involved external institutions

Universitätsmedizin Greifswald / Universitätsklinikum Greifswald DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Oetter, N., Möst, T., Weber, M., Buchbender, M., Rohde, M., Foerster, Y.,... Lutz, R. (2022). COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on dental education: digitalization - progress or regress? Example of an online hands-on course. BMC Medical Education, 22(1), 591-. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03638-7

MLA:

Oetter, Nicolai, et al. "COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on dental education: digitalization - progress or regress? Example of an online hands-on course." BMC Medical Education 22.1 (2022): 591-.

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