Students' preferences regarding teaching methodology in dental education - a cross-sectional study

The goal of dental education is to prepare competent ethical professionals with critical thinking, reasoning and analyzing skills along with ability of application of clinical skills and judgement in treating a patient. The present study was designed with the objective to elicit the preferences of dental students regarding the utility of the prevailing teaching and learning methods and teaching aids.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate dental students. Study population consisted of 382 dental students. A self-designed close-ended questionnaire written in English was constructed specifically for the study. The questionnaire was divided into two sections. Information regarding various teaching and learning methods both in theory and practical/clinical classes was obtained from the students. Results were calculated using numbers and percentages only.

The mean age of the students was 20.49 + 2.4 years. Problem based learning (PBL) was rated very useful by 76% (290) and useful by 24% (92) of subjects. Performing clinical/practical procedure individually rather than in group was rated very useful by 31% (118) of subjects. Use of power-point along with the blackboard was rated as the most useful method by 95% (363) of subjects. Majority of subjects (61%, 233) felt that 40 minutes duration of lecture was more useful as compared to 30 minutes.

Our study concludes that dental students prefer active teaching learning methodologies and combination of audiovisual aids. Hence it is suggested that collaboration of different active teaching methods and aids should be adopted by the teachers in order to enhance the student learning process.