Assessment of Learning Approaches of Saudi Dental Students Using the Revised Two-Factor Study Process Questionnaire: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the learning approaches of undergraduate dental students in Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a cross-sectional study in which an electronic questionnaire using the Biggs Revised two-factor Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) was completed by 222 undergraduate dental students from 1st year to 5th year. R-SPQ-2F contains 20 items to measure learning approaches through a structural model contrasting deep and surface learning. Results The mean value of the deep approach was higher among 4th- and 5th-year students than among 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-year students. The mean values of the surface approach in male subjects and subjects with lower grade point averages were statistically significant higher than those of the deep approach. Conclusion This study highlights that dental students have a greater tendency to adopt the surface approach when they are in preclinical years and in the 3rd year, when they experience a transition to clinical training. A deep approach to learning was mostly adopted among 4th- and 5th-year dental students. The surface approach was higher among male than female students. Students who used a deep approach had higher academic achievement than students who used a surface approach.

Attitudes, knowledge, and skills towards artificial intelligence among healthcare students: A systematic review

“…Tables 2 and 3 list the characteristics of all the included studies. Seven (18%) of the 38 included studies were carried out in Saudi Arabia, 28–30,36,41,42,45 4 (11%) were carried out in the UK, 35,37,46,49 3 (8%) were carried out in the United States, 50,53,59 2 (5%) was carried out in Germany, 18,38 2 (5%) was carried out in Turkey, 51,52 2 (5%) was carried out in Australia and New Zealand, 47,59 2 (5%) was carried out in Canada, 14,19 and other studies were carried out in Pakistan, 26 Jordan, 27 Ireland, 32 United Arab Emirates, 33 India, 39 Singapore, 43 Brazil, 44 Vietnam, 55 South Korea, 56 Switzerland, 57 and Croatia 58 . Also, three studies were widely conducted in several countries around the world 31,48,60 .…”

“…Of the 38 included studies, 29 (76%) healthcare students had a positive and promising attitude towards AI in the clinical profession and its use in the future 14,18,26–33,35,37,39–41,43–52,54–56,58 . Among these, 17 studies were conducted in HICs, 14,18,32,33,35,37,40,42,44,46–50,54,56,58 11 studies were conducted in LMICs, 26–30,39,41,45,51,52,55 and a study was conducted in countries around the world 31 .…”

“…According to "World Economic Situation and Prospects" by Belsey (2022), 60 22 included studies were conducted in high-income countries (HICs) 14,18,19,[32][33][34][35]37,38,40,43,44,46,47,49,50,53,54,56,[58][59][60] and 14 studies were conducted in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). [26][27][28][29][30]36,39,41,42,45,51,52,55,57…”

“…27 According to AlAhmari et al, the majority of participants (52.8% and 21.1%) agreed and strongly agreed with the statements "I think AI will lead to major advancements in dentistry and medicine" and "AI is exciting medicine and dentistry," respectively. 28 | 15 of 23 Few students felt that the otorhinolaryngology curriculum's 162 (30.1%) ML was not important for learning. 29 Additionally, according to Abouzeid et al, the majority of students (69.9%) believe that advances in AI will make medicine and dentistry more exciting and that AI will be a part of medical education (85.6%).…”

“…14,26-30,33-37,39-48,50-52,56 Among these, 18 studies evaluated the level of students' knowledge as low (50%). 14,[26][27][28]30,33,34,36,37,39,41,42,[44][45][46]48,52,56 Of the 18 included studies, 10 were conducted in LMICs [26][27][28]30,36,39,41,42,45,52 and eight were conducted in HICs. 14,33,34,37,44,46,48,56 thought it even threatened radiologists' auxiliary functions.…”