Influence of dentistry students' e-Learning satisfaction: a questionnaire survey

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Dental Simulation Technology
• E-Learning Platforms

Background:

• Dental graduates require extensive practice to ensure patient safety.
• Traditional training methods face limitations in time, space, and realistic clinical simulation.
• Virtual learning environments offer a solution to bridge the practice gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the integration of DentSim, a clinical dentistry simulator, into an e-Learning platform for dental students.
• To identify factors influencing e-Learner satisfaction within a virtual dental training environment.
• To assess the impact of learner interface, learning community, content, and personalization on intention to use and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A research model was developed incorporating e-Learner satisfaction factors and intention to use.
• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed for data analysis.
• 350 dental students from the College of Oral Medicine participated in the study.

Main Results:

• Learner interface, learning community, and personalization significantly influenced students' intention to use the e-Learning system.
• Intention to use was a key predictor of overall e-Learner satisfaction with the DentSim-integrated platform.
• The system effectively simulated clinical conditions and diagnostic processes.

Conclusions:

• Virtual learning environments like DentSim enhance dental education by overcoming traditional constraints.
• Positive learner interface, strong learning community, and personalized content are crucial for driving adoption and satisfaction.
• Integrating simulation technology into e-Learning platforms is vital for improving dental student preparedness and patient safety.