Medical Students' Perceptions of Peer-Developed Video-Based Training on Periodontal Health and Its Relationship With...

Periodontal health is an essential aspect of systemic health, with strong evidence linking it to diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory conditions. Despite these well-documented connections, oral health remains underrepresented in medical education due to curriculum constraints. This study aimed to explore medical students' perceptions and self-reported learning outcomes regarding peer-developed video-based training on periodontal health and its relationship with systemic diseases, thereby highlighting the potential benefits of integrating periodontal health education into medical curricula.

To address this educational gap, an educational video covering periodontal tissues, periodontal health, and their relationship with systemic diseases was prepared by a fifth-year dental student. This video was presented to 169 third-year medical students as part of a public health course. Subsequently, a structured survey was administered to assess students' perceptions, perceived effectiveness of the training and self-reported learning outcomes.

A total of 169 medical students (mean age: 21.3 years) participated in the study. Most students (84%) reported that they were able to distinguish healthy from diseased gums, and 93% reported applying the oral care practices shown in the video. While 88% reported recognizing the necessity of dental visits in the case of periodontal diseases, 91% felt confident identifying such conditions. Regarding the technical evaluation, over 90% of students expressed satisfaction with the video's duration, content distribution and clarity of demonstrations. Furthermore, 93% reported gaining new information through the training. Open-ended responses emphasized the value of visual-based learning and suggested enhancements such as shorter modules and gamified tools.

This study suggests that peer-developed video-based training materials appear to be a promising educational strategy for supporting medical students' awareness and perceived understanding of periodontal health and may contribute to the integration of such approaches into medical curricula.