Nigerian dental students' perspectives about their clinical education

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Date
2019-10
Authors
Isiekwe, G.I
Umeizudike, K.A
Abah, A.A
Fadeju, A.D
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Lagos Journal of Dental Sciences
Abstract
Objective: Undergraduate dental education in Nigeria is rapidly expanding with new dental schools being established in different parts of the country. Clinical training forms an important and key component of the undergraduate dental training process. The objective of this paper is to assess the perceptions of Nigerian dental students on the clinical component of their undergraduate training programme. Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out amongst 350 dental students and recent dental graduates from the nine accredited dental schools in the country at that time. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC). Data collection was via self-administered questionnaires. The study assessed the dental students' perspectives on different aspects of their clinical training using a validated instrument, which was a slightly modified form of the CLinED IQ questionnaire. Results: The final study sample was made up of 275 students and recent graduates with a mean age of 24.57years. The students rated their interactions with their clinical instructors and faculty members favourably, but provided lower ratings for clinical learning opportunities, due to the different challenges faced in the dental school environment. The students also rated their involvement in specific clinical learning activities low, with only three out of the eleven highlighted activities recording a high-level involvement. Conclusion: Nigerian dental students perceive that interaction with their faculty members is more beneficial to them than the clinical learning opportunities provided in the dental school. This was mainly attributed to inefficiencies in the dental school environment and insufficient infrastructure. They also reported a low level of involvement in specific clinical learning activities.
Description
Keywords
Students' perspective, Undergraduate Dental training, Clinical education, Nigeria , Research Subject Categories::ODONTOLOGY , Research Subject Categories::ODONTOLOGY::Other odontology
Citation
7. Isiekwe GI, Umeizudike KA, Abah AA, Fadeju AD. Nigerian Dental students’ perspectives about their Clinical education (2018) University of Lagos Journal Of Dental Sciences.3:8-16.