Addressing Perceived Barriers to Achieving Competency in Clinical Endodontics: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Endodontics
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Predoctoral dental education faces challenges in developing clinical competency.
• Educational content must address student-identified barriers in endodontics.
• Innovative teaching methods are crucial for effective dental training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate predoctoral dental students' satisfaction with faculty-generated educational videos.
• To identify student preferences for educational content aimed at improving endodontic clinical competency.
• To assess the impact of video-based learning on perceived barriers in endodontics.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involving third (D3) and fourth (D4) year dental students.
• Qualitative data collected via focus groups on initial video drafts.
• Quantitative data gathered through surveys on satisfaction with final instructional videos.

Main Results:

• D3 students favored foundational concepts and background information.
• D4 students appreciated enhanced visualization via clinical operating microscopes.
• All students (100%) expressed willingness to use videos in the curriculum.
• Students showed equal preference for YouTube/social media versus NYU-affiliated platforms.

Conclusions:

• Dental students are satisfied with faculty-created educational videos.
• Different student cohorts value distinct elements within educational content.
• Collaborative content development ensures curriculum relevance and caters to diverse learning styles.