Dental student perceptions of case-based educational effectiveness

This study investigated the effects of a case-based education course on second-year dental students. It explored what impact the small-group environment had on the participants professionally, communicatively, and personally and also analyzed their performance evaluations of the facilitators. The study employed a pretest-posttest survey design. Students' professional development consistently showed a positive significant change as a result of the course, especially regarding perceived skills. The course was found to have impacted the students' confidence in their own team contribution, and their ability to discuss and present treatment plans also significantly increased. This study did not find evidence of influence on the students' personal benefit. The students reported perceiving that the facilitators' abilities were stronger at the beginning of the course, but then the ratings decreased over time. Overall, the case-based education course was found to have positively affected students' knowledge and skills acquisition as well as their communication skills.