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Published on: February 2, 2020
Students' learning environment perception and the transition to clinical training in dentistry
Carlos M Serrano1,2, Maxim D Lagerweij3, Ilse R de Boer2
1Evidence Based Clinic, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Student perception of the learning environment declines throughout dental school, particularly during the transition from preclinical to clinical training. This highlights a need for educational interventions to improve the student learning experience.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Dental Education
Background:
- The learning environment (LE) significantly impacts student behavior, academic success, and satisfaction.
- Assessing student perceptions of the LE is crucial for curricular quality assurance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in dental students' perceptions of the learning environment throughout their undergraduate program.
- To investigate the influence of preclinical (Pt) and clinical (Ct) training phases on the learning experience.
Main Methods:
- A total of 849 undergraduate dental students at ACTA were divided into Pt and Ct groups.
- The Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire assessed the LE.
- Data were analyzed using SPSS for reliability and comparative analysis.
Main Results:
- A total of 595 students completed the DREEM questionnaire (response rate 65-75%).
- Overall DREEM scores were higher in the Pt phase (133.4) compared to the Ct phase (119.2).
- DREEM scores consistently decreased throughout the curriculum, with significant drops observed in the second and third years.
Conclusions:
- Student perception of the LE deteriorates during dental school, especially during the Pt-Ct transition.
- All domains of the LE questionnaire showed lower scores in the Ct phase, indicating a need for educational intervention.
- Further research is needed to understand and address the educational needs during the Pt-Ct transition.
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