Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted educational frameworks worldwide, particularly affecting health professions education. The impact on students varied based on local pandemic severity, public health policies, and institutional capacities. Our observational, retrospective study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on senior dental students' performance during community rotations at Indiana University School of Dentistry. Data from student self-assessments and faculty evaluations, collected as part of the Community-Based Dental Education (CBDE) course between 2018 to 2022 was utilized. Five key domains of patient care: diagnosis and treatment planning, clinical skills, time management, interprofessional collaboration, and professionalism was assesed using a 5-point Likert scale. Pre- and post-pandemic comparisons of self-reported student evaluation and faculty assessment scores were conducted using two-sample t-tests, with ANOVA used to analyze cohort differences. Significant declines were observed in mean scores for diagnosis and treatment planning, clinical skills, time management, and interprofessional collaboration during the post-COVID period compared to pre-COVID levels (p<0.05). Conversely, an increase in average scores related to students' professionalism was noted, although this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Class cohort-wise analysis showed similar patterns, with all cohorts experiencing significant declines in the aforementioned areas (p<0.05) and non-significant increases in professionalism scores (p>0.05). This study findings underscore the challenges faced by dental education in adapting to pandemic-induced disruptions and highlight the importance of adaptive approaches and support systems to address these challenges. Moving forward, resolving disparities in assessments and comprehending the various factors influencing student performance will be crucial to preserving the adaptability and effectiveness of dentistry education in the face of adversity.
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