Critical thinking disposition among Thai dental students

Abstract

Objectives: Critical thinking is recognized as an essential aspect in the training of healthcare professionals, yet it has not been explicitly applied to dental education in Thailand. Therefore, this research study aimed to survey the status of critical thinking disposition among Thai dental students and examine the correlation between critical thinking disposition and academic performance. Methods: In 2020, 322 students from a Thai dental school were invited to participate in the study and answer an online questionnaire supplying demographic data and Grade Point Average (GPA), and respond to the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI). A one-way analysis of variance and Spearman's correlation were used to analyze the data.Results: Overall, 279 of the 322 participants (86.6%) completed the demographic information and CCTDI. Three subscales were found to be in the ambivalent range: truth-seeking (36.8 ± 6.2), systematicity (39.0 ± 5.5), and maturity of judgment (37.1 ± 5.9). Most of the CCTDI subscale scores did not significantly correlate with GPAs, except for systematicity (r = 0.119, p = 0.047) and confidence in reasoning (r = 0.146, p = 0.015). Conclusion:This study examined the strengths and weaknesses of the students' critical thinking dispositions. Their GPAs correlated with two critical thinking disposition subscales; however, the results did not guarantee a correlation with academic outcomes. Pedagogical strategies to develop dental students' critical thinking dispositions need to be further assessed.

Critical thinking disposition of medical students in Anhui Province, China: a cross-sectional investigation

“…The results indicate an ambivalent range of critical thinking disposition in medical undergraduate students, including truth-seeking, open-mindedness, and maturity in judgment. However, the present findings resemble those of Zia [ 16 ] and Nguyen [ 13 ], who investigate the perception and disposition of critical thinking in medical undergraduate students, whereas different from the critical thinking disposition in German nurses [ 17 ] and Thailand dental students [ 18 ] with a positive attitude. This suggests that critical thinking disposition appear ambivalent to students similar to other countries and areas.…”

“…However, it is difficult to teach the students to develop their critical thinking disposition and skills. Due to the Asia traditional culture, Asian students showed lower critical thinking abiliiesy because it is not emphasized in their school education [ 18 – 20 ]. Despite this, the critical thinking disposition of dental students in Thailand showed a positive predisposition.…”

“…Despite this, the critical thinking disposition of dental students in Thailand showed a positive predisposition. One of the important reasons is high school students should take the entrance examination of the General Aptitude Test to apply for admission to dental school [ 18 ]. In addition, previous studies have demonstrated positive critical thinking abilities and skills in medical students in some countries [ 7 ], especially after some invention tests [ 3 , 21 ].…”

Change in students’ critical thinking over the course of dental education

“…14 Despite concerns about its definition and measurement the concept of critical thinking is so entrenched that calls for its promotion in dental education persist. [15][16][17] Our previous research evaluated instruments that could be used to assess critical thinking in dental students. 12 A review of this work summarized the findings by stating that "there is no convincing evidence that any of the instruments that can be used to measure critical thinking are supported by evidence of appropriate performance."…”

“…Despite concerns about its definition and measurement the concept of critical thinking is so entrenched that calls for its promotion in dental education persist 15–17 …”