Effects of an interactive simulation material for clinical dentistry on knowledge acquisition

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Traditional dental education relies on passive learning methods.
• Interactive simulation offers a potentially more engaging approach for complex procedures like pulpectomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of interactive simulation with decision-making on dental students' knowledge acquisition.
• To assess the effect of interactive simulation on reducing anxiety during learning.

Main Methods:

• Fourth-year dental students were divided into interactive (Group I) and display (Group D) learning groups.
• Both groups learned about pulpectomy using identical content, differing only in interactivity and decision-making components.
• Learning outcomes and anxiety levels were measured using quizzes, questionnaires, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-JYZ.

Main Results:

• Group I demonstrated significantly higher quiz scores (75.4±1.4) than Group D (60.6±2.7).
• State anxiety increased after scenario presentation but significantly decreased after the learning module for both groups.
• No significant differences were found between groups regarding anxiety or most questionnaire responses, except for operability.

Conclusions:

• Interactive simulation materials incorporating decision-making appear effective for enhancing knowledge acquisition in dental education.
• Further research may explore optimizing interactive elements to further impact anxiety reduction.