An alternative approach to teaching statistics to dental students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Biostatistics
• Dental Public Health

Background:

• Statistics instruction is prevalent in dental schools.
• Existing statistical education methods present significant challenges.
• Dentists require a functional understanding of statistical principles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on statistics education in dental schools.
• To identify effective and economical methods for teaching statistics to dental students.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing statistics content in dental education.
• Analysis of surveys on the statistical knowledge of dentists.
• Evaluation of computer-assisted instruction and programmed texts.

Main Results:

• There is a consensus on the necessity of statistical knowledge for dentists.
• Health science statistics guidelines are applicable to dental education.
• Computer-assisted instruction is a suggested but costly solution.
• Programmed texts present a viable, cost-effective alternative.

Conclusions:

• Effective statistics instruction is crucial for dental professionals.
• Programmed self-instruction is a promising, inexpensive method for dental statistics education.