Perception of Clinical Learning Experience: Dental Student Voices

This study sought to explore dental students' perceptions of their clinical learning experience through the use of similes and metaphors in order to provide useful insights for clinical teaching.

69 dental students in their clinical years (4th, 5th and 6th) participated in this study by responding to an online survey from February to April 2023 at the Toulouse University Hospital Centre. The sentence they were asked to complete concerning their clinical learning was 'To be a clinical dental student in 2023 is…'. A thematic analysis of free-text responses was conducted to generate themes reflecting the perceptions of students.

The students perceived their clinical studies as a long and difficult journey, requiring adaptability, resilience, and endurance to face complex or uncomfortable situations. Their environment was often perceived as hostile, and their clinical development as a battle. However, they also recognised that this difficult learning process was an investment in their future, with the hope of bringing smiles to patients' faces.

This study allowed dental students to express their views on their clinical learning experience, and students should have more opportunities to influence their learning through feedback. In a dental course, the arts can serve as a powerful tool for diagnosing learning and teaching problems and to express emotions, which can have a positive impact on professional growth.