Abstract
The objective of our study was to evaluate dental students’ perception of the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic related to their clinical work, education, performance, online examinations, psychological health, and teamwork. A validated online questionnaire consisting of closed ended questions was sent to all the undergraduate dental students at our institute. Data were collected and analyzed statistically using a chi-square test to compare responses of male with female and junior with senior students. A total of 317 undergraduate dental students (N = 317) participated in this cross-sectional study. The most common challenges perceived by the participants were related to their exam duration (77.3%), patient availability (66.9%), difficulty in understanding online lectures (58.4%), and a fear of losing grades (57.4%). Participants reported that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their performance in the courses (75.4%), teamwork (72.2%), educational aspects (67.5%), and psychological health (51.1%). A significantly greater proportion of female students reported the adverse effects of COVID-19 on their psychological health than male students (p = 0.031). Senior students perceived the negative impact of COVID-19 on teamwork significantly more than the junior students (p = 0.004). The majority of students reported challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Female students and senior students perceived more challenges than their counterparts. Future studies from other institutes of this region are recommended to establish a clearer picture of COVID-19 related challenges faced by dental students.
Highlights
The coronaviruses are a group of ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses that target the respiratory epithelial cells and gastrointestinal tract, facilitating transmission through different routes such as air droplets, fomites, and faeces [1,2,3]
The students who were registered in the college (2nd to 6th year), were willing to participate in the study voluntarily, and who provided informed consent were included in the study
Dental educational institutes have been affected severely [6], which has led to multiple challenges faced by dental students, leading to a negative effect on their education, performance, teamwork, and psychological health [21]
Summary
The coronaviruses are a group of ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses that target the respiratory epithelial cells and gastrointestinal tract, facilitating transmission through different routes such as air droplets, fomites, and faeces [1,2,3]. The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan, China, which spread to the rest of the world rapidly [3] It can demonstrate mild symptoms in certain patients (similar to the common cold) while in some, the symptoms can be severe, including shortness of breath, chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea [3]. This virus transmits primarily through the droplets of the mouth or nose during breathing, coughing, and sneezing [3,4]. It would be pertinent to assess the dental students’ awareness and attitude towards COVID-19 and develop a strategy to overcome any concerns [7]
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