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Empowering dental students: A quasi-experimental study on disability awareness through the EQUALISED program
Maryani Mohamed Rohani1, Lily Azura Shoaib1, Ninuk Hariyani2
1Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Background:
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) face significant barriers to accessing equitable dental care, primarily due to dentists' insufficient training. The Equality in Special Care Dentistry (EQUALISED) program aims to empower dental students with better understanding in providing dental care for PWDs. This study evaluates the program's impact on dental students' knowledge and awareness toward PWDs.
Materials And Methods:
Using a quasi-experimental pretest-post-test design, knowledge and feedback among students at Universitas Airlangga were assessed after the program. A total of 86 fifth-year dental students participated in a 1-day program, which included interactive seminars, experiential learning with PWDs, video campaigns assignments, and reflective discussions. Pre- and post-EQUALISED was assessed using a validated 10-item true/false quiz. Program feedback was collected using a structured online questionnaire with Likert scale and an open-ended item. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. The significance level was set at. 05.
Results:
The EQUALISED program resulted in significant improvements in students' post-test performance. The failure rate decreased from 1.2% to 0%, while the proportion of students achieving excellent scores increased from 34.1% to 90.6%. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant difference (P < 0.001) with a strong effect size (Cramér V = 0.81). Students also provided positive feedback, particularly valuing the real-life experiences shared by PWDs.
Conclusions:
The EQUALISED program significantly improved students' disability knowledge and awareness, supporting inclusive care goals aligned with health equity policies. Embedding such training into dental curricula can reduce oral health disparities and foster empathetic dentists.
