Dental Clinical Teaching: Perceptions of Students and Teachers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of dental student clinicians and clinical teachers about dental clinical teaching to provide primary data for dental researchers and educators. Student focus group data provided background for development of a questionnaire that explored three themes related to clinical teaching. Twenty-one teachers and forty-five student respondents completed the twenty-five-item questionnaire in 2003. In the theme of the teacher/student relationship, no statistically significant differences were seen between teacher and student group perceptions. In the theme of educational theory applied in dental clinical teaching, a statistically significant difference was seen between teacher and student groups in the value of preclinical instruction in senior clinical years and in the value of a clinical log book. In the theme of skills required for clinical dental practice, a statistically significant difference was seen between teacher and student groups in the value of a critical appreciation of evidence-based practice as one of the skills. The study overall indicates that the dental clinical learning environment supports close perceptual conformity between students and clinical teachers in regard to what each group considers to be "good practice" in clinical teaching. The findings of this study indicate that some techniques that have been advocated to enhance clinical learning, such as evidence-based teaching methods, require further investigation. Dr. Gerzina is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty

Evaluation of Initial Clinical Training: A Survey within the Graduates of the Faculty of Dentistry of Casablanca

“…The clinical training environment involves some layers of complexity, as it may fill a dual role; learning and training of the student on one side; and health institute where the care is provided by the same trainer on the other. Consequently, the learning environment at the clinic or hospital is a challenging area for both the teacher and the student [1].…”

“…A clinical organization based on a problem-based learning (PBL) approach was also evaluated. It is a learning approach where students are led to work in small groups and acquire new knowledge to solve genuine, complex and multidisciplinary problems, representing the everyday practice [1]. In other words, student centered approach in which students determine what they need to learn.…”

“…In other words, student centered approach in which students determine what they need to learn. It is up to the learners to derive the key issues of the problems they face, define their knowledge gaps, and pursue and acquire the missing [1,2].…”

Learning experiences of oral hygiene students in the clinical environment

“…The clinical learning experiences of medical , dental , nursing and to a lesser extent dental hygiene students are well documented. Effective learning experiences of dental students have been related to instructor characteristics, characteristics of the learning experience and the learning environment .…”

“…Similar results were noted with medical students . The literature shows that students learn in the clinical environment by being shown the link between theory and practice , by demonstration of procedures , by being exposed to authentic learning experiences , from the emotional tone of clinical teachers , and by being given frequent feedback of their performance .…”