Skill acquisition in Dentistry degree during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

The acquisition of dental skills during the final year of the Dentistry degree is primarily based on clinical training, which was severely disrupted during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The aim of the study was to determine the degree of acquisition of specific skills in the Integrated Dental Clinic course based on students' perceptions.

A total of 84 dental students were included in the study. Online forms were administered to evaluate students' perception of competency acquisition in professionalism, communication, basic knowledge, information management, critical thinking, collection of clinical information, diagnosis, treatment, health establishment, health maintenance, and health promotion. The questionnaires were sent before and after the declaration of the COVID-19 state of alarm in Spain. Statistical analysis was performed using R statistical software, v. 4.1.1.

The highest percentage of students reporting high levels of perceived competency acquisition corresponded to health promotion (72.37%), professionalism (52.86%) and ability to collect clinical information (52.34%). Statistically significant improvements in perceived skill acquisition between the beginning and the end of the course were observed for professionalism, collection of clinical information, diagnosis, treatment, health establishment, health maintenance, and health promotion.

Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, fifth-year dental students perceived that they had successfully acquired specific skills by the end of the academic course, particularly professional skills, ability to collect clinical information, ability to diagnose and treat, ability to establish and maintain health, as well as health promotion skills.