Trends in students' knowledge, opinions, and experience regarding dental informatics and computer applications

This study investigated knowledge, opinions, and experience regarding dental informatics and computers among first-year dental students (D1s) and fourth-year dental students (D4s).

First-year (N = 95) and fourth-year (N = 91) students in 1990 and first-year (N = 97) and fourth-year (N = 91) students in 1993 at a school of dentistry were surveyed.

Demographic characteristics and computer ownership were assessed. Knowledge was measured using an 18-item scale (range 0-18). Opinions were measured using a 13-item scale (range 13-65; alpha = 0.81). Experience was measured using a 28-item scale (range 28-140).

Response rates were all nearly 100%. Computer ownership by the D1s increased from 17.9% to 43.8% in the three years between surveys. Knowledge and opinions of the 1990 and 1993 D1s were similar, although the latter reported more experience with hardware and software. Experience with dental informatics applications was lacking in both groups. The 1993 D4s had completed more computer courses than had the 1990 D4s (2.3 vs 0.9), and demonstrated significantly more knowledge and experience. Opinion scores were nearly identical for these groups. The D4s in 1993 who had been D1s in 1990 had increased their knowledge of and experience with informatics applications during dental school. A difference in computer knowledge between the entering D1 males and females was observed in 1990, but was essentially gone by 1993 for the same individuals.

Entering students had more computing knowledge and skill than their predecessors. Informatics knowledge and experience increased during dental school, and knowledge disparities between genders disappeared.