Exploring research opportunities and challenges facing dental students in Khartoum state

Abstract

Context: Research is an essential component of many predoctoral medical and dental education programs focused on training students as clinicians, educators, and researchers in evidence-based practices. Despite the importance of clinical research, a variety of factors discourage young candidates from entering clinical research careers. As the rate of conduction of clinical researches in the dental field is increasing nowadays, it is important to define the impediments that face undergraduate and postgraduate dental students and hence formulate solutions. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the research opportunities and challenges facing undergraduate and postgraduate dental students among different universities in Khartoum state. Settings and Design: Four hundred and twenty-six questionnaires were distributed in this descriptive cross-sectional study, among both undergraduate and postgraduate dental students in five universities in the Khartoum state. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire was modified from the dental students' research inventory questionnaire which was well validated. Statistical Analysis Used: The analysis was done using SPSS Version 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Most of the participants included in this study were undergraduates (89%). The study showed that only 4.4% were found to face high challenges concerning data analysis, 46.7% have had a high challenge in writing a report and publishing their research data, and 60.4% encountered curriculum problems while conducting their research. Generally, most of the participants were unsatisfied about the different facilities and opportunities that were available to them. In addition, 84.8% of them were moderately satisfied from the knowledge and skills they gained from their research experience. Conclusion: Dental students among different universities in Khartoum state are facing challenges in several aspects while conducting a research project. Research committees should develop and enhance the needed facilities that would encourage young candidates to conduct research.