Preclinical Students Research Articles

Assessment of Microhardness of Bulk-Fill Class II Resin Composite Restorations Performed by Preclinical Students: An In Vitro Study

Abstract Objectives A comparable performance between bulk-fill composites (BFCs) and progressively inserted conventional resin composite (CRC) has been observed in previous studies. However, a significant number of dental institutions in India continue to employ incremental techniques for RC restorations during preclinical studies. But as BFCs are gaining popularity, they may soon be a part of the curriculum for dental students. The aim of this study was to assess the microhardness and the polymerization efficiency of bulk-fill composites versus CRC in class II slot preparations restored by second-year dental students on ivorine mandibular first molar teeth with high-intensity (HI) and low-intensity (LI) light-curing units using the standard mesial slot preparation technique. Material and Methods Fifty preclinical dental students of second year of a dental college were recruited for the study on a voluntary basis. During their preclinical instructions, all participants were taught and made to practice the handling and curing techniques for two-surface RC restorations for 4 months. Each student was asked to perform four RC restorations: CRC-HI, CRC-LI, BFC-HI, and BFC LI. Assessment of microhardness was done using the Vickers microhardness (VMH) test. Statistical analysis One-way and multivariate analysis of variance and Bonferroni 's post hoc test tests were used for data analysis. Results The results showed a significant decrease in the VMH readings in the horizontal axis, progressing from the uppermost to the lowermost positions (p > 0.05). In all the examined groups, the VMH values at the deepest reading locations were found to be higher than 80% of the values observed at the occlusal surface reading locations. Statistically significant associations were seen between the RC type and the light source used in the VMH readings conducted (p > 0.05). However, no significant correlation was identified between the type of light source and the vertical VMH readings (p > 0.05). Conclusion Instructing dental students to place RC restorations using CRC or BFC materials together with both HI and LI light-curing protocols is safe and can be considered for preclinical studies.

Mental health disturbance in preclinical medical students and its association with screen time, sleep quality, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundAffected by various hurdles during COVID-19, preclinical medical students are at an elevated risk for mental health disturbances. However, the effects of modern mental health problems on preclinical medical students have not been adequately researched. Thus, this study was aimed to identify the proportions and implications of current mental health problems for depression, sleep quality and screen time among Indonesian medical preclinical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted using crowdsourcing between October 2020 and June 2021. During the study period, 1,335 subjects were recruited, and 1,023 datasets were identified as valid. General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) was used to measure current mental health disturbances (categorized as without current mental health disturbances, psychological distress, social dysfunction, or both). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was employed to assess sleep quality, and a questionnaire devised for this study was used to assess screen time length per day. Multivariate data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24 for Mac.ResultsAccording to the findings, 49.1% of the 1,023 participants had current mental health disturbances: 12.8% had psychological distress, 15.9% had social dysfunction, and the rest (20.4%) had both psychological distress and social dysfunction. The statistical analysis provided strong evidence of a difference (p < 0.001) between the medians of depression and sleep quality with at least one pair of current mental health disturbance groups, but the difference for screen time was not significant (p = 0.151). Dunn’s post-hoc analysis showed that groups without current mental health problems had significantly lower mean ranks of depression and sleep quality compared to groups that had current mental health problems (p < 0.001).ConclusionCurrent mental health disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly associated with preclinical medical students’ depression and sleep quality in preclinical medical students. Thus, mental health programs for this specific population should be tailored to integrate mindfulness therapy, support groups, stress management, and skills training to promote mental wellbeing.

Prevalence of nocturia in young adolescents among preclinical, clinical, and agriculture students

Background: Nocturia is defined as a complaint of micturition that wakes a person up from sleep one or more times a night. Nocturia is one of the Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) that can be very disturbing for patients. All age ranges can experience nocturia, although the incidence is more prevalent in the elderly. The causative factors of nocturia vary widely. Several systemic diseases, hormonal imbalances, use of certain medications, and psychological conditions can play a role in the development of nocturia. Objective: Determine prevalence and potential influencing factors of nocturia in young adolescents. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted online on students of the Preclinical, Clinical, and Agriculture students at Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia using Google Form adapting the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Nocturia (ICIQ-N). Results: A total of 384 respondents were obtained. The average age of respondents was 20 years. The incidence of nocturia among 384 respondents was 53%. Female respondents experienced more nocturia (67.64%) than males. Conclusion: Nocturia is a common complaint among younger age groups, and is predominantly experienced by women.

Visual Versus Digital Color Determination of 3D-Printed Teeth as an Exercise in Dental Students' Education.

Visual color determination is part of the daily routine in dental practice. However, it is not a part of dental education so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether visual or digital tooth color determination of 3D-printed teeth is a reliable tool for inexperienced dentistry students. Preclinical dental students evaluated eleven 3D-printed, tooth-shaped samples (VarseoSmile Crown plus, BEGO, Bremen, Germany) of different color shades. Visual shade determination using a reference scale (3D-Master Toothguide (3DM_TG), VITA Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany), followed by a digital color determination using a spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade V, (ES_V), VITA Zahnfabrik), was performed. Color deviation was calculated in the Lab* color space (ΔE00) and converted into CIELAB 2000. The results were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test (α = 0.05). Significant differences between visual and digital color determination were proven (p < 0.001). Visual color determination (3DM_TG) showed a mean deviation (ΔE00 ± 95%CI) of 6.49 ± 0.47. Digital color determination (ES_V) showed significantly lower mean deviations of ΔE00 of 1.44 ± 0.58. Digital tooth color measurement using a spectrophotometer was a more reliable tool for the color determination of 3D-printed teeth for inexperienced dentistry students.

Medical Students Understanding of The Scope of Plastic Surgery.

Background Plastic surgery has developed to benefit in a variety of challenging areas formerly handled by other disciplines. Medical students do not have a clear picture of plastic surgery as a career due to lacking scope, clinical practice, and understanding of plastic surgery as a clinical area of expertise, including general practitioners, nursing staff, medical trainees, and the general public, and misconceptions about the extent of reconstructive and plastic surgery. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on Kuwait University Medical students (2nd-7th Years) over a period of 1 month. A questionnaire and a consent form were provided to eligible students. The inclusion criteria were Kuwait University Medical students from 2nd to 7th Years with signed consent form. The response was collected via email sent in coordination with the Vice Dean of Student Affairs in the Faculty of Medicine. Using statistical package for the social sciences, responses were statistically analyzed. Pearson's chi-square test was used to calculate p -values, where p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 244 eligible medical students, 121 males and 123 females, were included in the study, with a mean age of 21 (±2) years. Similarly, 126 (51.6%) were preclinical students (2nd-4th-year students), while 118 (48.4%) were clinical students (5th-7th-year students). About 79.8% of medical students believed that plastic surgery plays an essential role in trauma management, whereas 9.2% did not consider plastic surgery significant for trauma management. This study found that only 15.5% of medical students were interested in enrolling in plastic surgery residency after graduation, while 47.1% of students did not consider plastic surgery residency after graduation. However, 37.4% were uncertain. The two most driving factors in deciding on plastic surgery residency were expected income (61.8%) and lifestyle (14.3%). Conclusion Improving medical students' education quality can enhance their perception and awareness of plastic surgery. Students should be taught the broader scope of plastic surgery. The inclusion of formal training during undergraduation is the essence of time and should be added to or improved during plastic surgery rotations with more emphasis on reconstructive and hand/peripheral nerve surgery. Student-led interest groups can be a useful tool for educating students about their specialty.

Perception of Special-Care Dentistry among Dental Students at Universitas Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

To assess the perceptions of special-care dentistry (SCD) among dental students in the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia. This cross-sectional study used a self-administered online questionnaire, and all preclinical and clinical students were invited to participate. The survey items comprised four domains related to participants' characteristics, perceptions of SCD, perceptions of managing patients with special needs, and perceptions of SCD education. The chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test were used in the analysis. A total of 572 students participated in this study. The findings showed that the clinical students were more familiar with SCD than the preclinical students were (p = 0.008). A statistically significant relationship was found between the study program and the ability to work independently with special-needs patients after graduation (p < 0.001), the ability to refer special-needs patients to specialists (p = 0.042), the perception of postgraduate training-program needs (p < 0.001), and the opportunity to consider postgraduate training (p = 0.004). Most of the respondents had a favorable perception of SCD. Thus, an improved SCD curriculum and SCD training for undergraduate and postgraduate students should be provided to develop the knowledge and skills needed to provide care to special-needs patients.

CORRELATION BETWEEN BODY MASS INDEX WITH BLOOD PRESSURE SYSTOLIC AND DIASTOLIC STUDY IN FACULTY OF MEDICINE UNIVERSITAS SWADAYA GUNUNG JATI

Background: An increase in body mass index significantly excess fat in the body. It can affect blood pressure through sympathetic nerve pathways, renin-angiostensin and inflammation. Fat deposits on blood vessel walls cause atherosclerosis, narrowing, increasing blood pressure, and increasing heart work. So that BMI can be a contributing factor to cardiovascular disease. Objective: Knowing the correlation between body mass index and blood pressure in medical students of Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati (UGJ) Methods: This research is an analytic observational study with a Cross Sectional design. The correlation analysis method uses the Spearman rank correlation test. The measuring instruments used include weight scales, microtoice, and digital tension. Respondents totaled 262 preclinic students from the Faculty of Medicine UGJ. Results: Based on the spearman rank correlation test, a significant correlation was found between body mass index with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The p-value for both is (p=0.000), indicating a correlation. The strength of the correlation was weak positive with values of (r=0.375) for systolic blood pressure and (r=0.337) for diastolic blood pressure. That is, higher the BMI of a person, the higher the blood pressure. Conclusion: There is a significant correlation with weak positive strength between body mass index with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in Medical Students. Keywords: Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure, Faculty od Medicine, Hypertension, Obesity

Assessment of Differences in Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Among Preclinical and Clinical Dental Students.

Aim To assess and compare differences in oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behavior among preclinical and clinical dental students of Dental Institute, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. Material and methods A total of 175 students responded to a total of 37 questions regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding dentistry and oral health. The mean percentage scores and standard deviation were calculated to assess the relation between knowledge, attitude, and behavior. Results It was observed that the students in the clinical phase had significantly better knowledge and attitude towards oral health than preclinical undergraduates. There was no significant difference in mean and SD among clinical and preclinical students in behavior while statistically significant differences were observed in their responses to questions related to knowledge (p = 0.000) and attitude (p = 0.007). Female students had better knowledge than male students (p = 0.029). Conclusion Clinical dental students of the institute showed a marginally higher KAP regarding oral health than preclinical students. This might reveal an ineffective transition of the students from the preclinical to the clinical stage. On intergender comparison, the females were better oriented than males towards oral health.

Effectiveness of typodont, quail egg and virtual simulation for ultrasonic periodontal scaling teaching among pre-clinical students: a randomized trial

BackgroundThis study aimed to compare the efficacy of three different techniques, namely virtual simulation technology (VS), traditional pathological typodont (TT), and quail egg (QE), in pre-clinical training of periodontal ultrasonic scaling. It also aimed to propose an integrated teaching approach for ultrasonic scaling teaching.MethodsThis single-blind randomized multi-arm trial enrolled 108 fourth-year students from Guanghua School of Stomatology at Sun Yat-sen University. The participants were randomly, evenly assigned to VS, TT, or QE group. First, the participants received theoretical review on ultrasonic scaling and demonstrative teaching. Then in the 90-minute operation training by group, students used traditional typodont equipped in head-simulators, raw quail eggs, or scaling module of the UniDental VS system respectively. Then all participants practiced on pathological models for 30 min. In the final operation examination, participants were instructed to remove the supra- and sub-gingival calculi pre-set on designated teeth by ultrasonic scalers within 30 min. Their performances were evaluated by residual calculus rate and a multi-perspective scoring scale. After the examination, questionnaires were provided to assess the teaching effects of each method and the fidelity of VS. Statistical analysis was carried out using one-way, two-way ANOVA, and multiple t-test.ResultsStudents in VS group had significant higher total test scores than QE group (87.89 ± 6.81, 83.53 ± 8.14) and TT group (85.03 ± 6.81). VS group scored higher in several dimensional comparisons with the other two groups, especially in difficult situations. QE group had higher scores particularly in force application and supra-gingival scaling. TT group scored the highest in pivot stability practice and body position training. Students gave higher scores when assessing the fidelity of VS than experienced teachers.ConclusionThe study highlights the importance of specialized pre-clinical training on ultrasonic scaling for dental students. The methods adopted in current study (VS, TT and QE) each offered unique advantages in education, which can be combined to create an integrative teaching procedure. This procedure aims to provide an effective, advisable and normative pre-clinical training procedure for ultrasonic scaling. By utilizing the strengths of each method, dental educators can deliver high-quality training and ensure that students are well-prepared for clinical practice.

Clinical insights: Anxiety levels and sleep quality among Hang Tuah Faculty of Medicine's class of 2017-2022 pre-clinical and clinical Students

Anxiety is a global psychiatric phenomenon, while poor sleep quality remains a pressing public health issue. The arduous medical education journey exposes students to prolonged stress, potentially exacerbating anxiety and sleep disturbances. This study investigates the correlation between anxiety and sleep quality in Hang Tuah Faculty of Medicine students, bridging the pre-clinical and clinical phases. Employing an analytical observational approach with a cross-sectional design, this study enrolled students from pre-clinical (batches 2020, 2021, 2022) and clinical years (batches DM45, DM46, DM47). Among the 409 approached participants, 296 met the inclusion criteria after excluding 113 samples. Data collection utilized online questionnaires with acquired informed consent. Sleep quality was evaluated via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, generating scores from 0 to 21. This study showed significantly robust evidence of an association between anxiety and sleep quality (p-value: 0.0001; r: 0.342) across both pre-clinical and clinical students. This study underscores a direct relationship: elevated anxiety levels correspond to diminished sleep quality. Such findings resonate with the prevailing challenges in medical education and their impact on students' mental and physical well-being. Implementing targeted interventions is crucial to address these concerns. In conclusion, this study underscores the undeniable link between anxiety and sleep quality among Hang Tuah Faculty of Medicine students, encompassing the years 2017 to 2022. The implications are far-reaching, emphasizing the necessity of interventions that enhance both psychological well-being and sleep quality. By recognizing and addressing these challenges, medical institutions can foster healthier academic environments and better equip students for their medical careers.

Stress levels and the factors associated with perceived stress among medical students

Introduction: The life of a medical student is stressful due to a variety of known and modifiable factors that tend to affect their academic output. Identification and amelioration of these stressors would go a long way to improve medical education.&#x0D; Objective: To assess stress levels and factors associated with perceived stress among medical students.&#x0D; Materials &amp; Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to June 2022 on 409 randomly selected preclinical and clinical students of different medical colleges of Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection about socio-demographic characteristics and potential risk factors (personal, environmental, academic) related to stress. The Kessler Psychological Distress Instrument (K10) was used for assessment of perceived stress levels. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 21 for descriptive statistics.&#x0D; Results: Most students were of the age group of 18-20 years (46.7%) with 55.3% males and 44.7% females. Majority of students (59.2%) students were day scholars with 40.8% resident in hostels. According to K10 scale, 7.8% students were normal, 49.6% had mild stress, and 32.1% had moderate stress. Severe stress was present in 10.5% of medical students. Levels of stress were positively associated with Academic, Psychosocial, Environmental, and Health Related stressors.&#x0D; Conclusion: Medical students of the selected colleges in Faisalabad suffered considerable levels of stress related to a number of modifiable factors that affected their academic performance.

Development of a surgical skills course for preclinical medical students

BackgroundPreclinical students have limited exposure and training in surgical skills. As a result, many students report negative experiences during their surgery clerkship from a lack of confidence in their technical abilities and, thus, lower participation in cases. Moreover, in fields such as vascular surgery, where a shortage of physicians persists, the absence of surgery and field-specific exposure for medical students could limit recruitment. To address these gaps, we designed a surgical skills curriculum for preclinical medical students using surgical simulators to develop fundamental surgical skills, introduce students to vascular surgery early, and provide training on vascular surgery-specific procedures. We hypothesize that a surgical skills course can significantly enhance preclinical students' surgical abilities before they enter their surgical clerkship and increase interest in pursuing a surgical specialty. MethodsA total of 26 students took part in a structured surgical skills curriculum comprising three sections: fundamental surgical skills, application of skills in a clinical context, and a surgical skills competition. During the course of six workshops, the students received formative feedback from proctors using task-specific standardized rubrics and assessments through the Objective Standardized Assessment of Technical Skills. Additionally, students' attitudes and perceptions toward surgical training and vascular surgery were evaluated using the modified Vascular Surgery Interest Forum. The summative performance of the preclinical students enrolled in the surgical skills course was compared with their initial performance after the skills workshop and with that of third-year medical students who had completed surgical rotations. Differences in responses and attitudes were analyzed at the beginning and conclusion of the course using bivariate analysis. ResultsOf the 26 students, most were women (61.5%) and in their second year of medical school (76.9%). Also, 23.1% identified as underrepresented minorities in medicine, 7.7% had physician family members, and 19.2% reported they had decided on a specialty. Following the knot-tying and suturing workshops, students reported a statistically significant increase in their self-rated understanding, comfort, and knowledge of tasks. Third-year medical students outperformed the preclinical students in knot-tying and instrument-tying tasks. However, no difference was found in the performance of these tasks between the third-year medical students and the top three preclinical students who completed the course. Both groups performed similarly on the anastomosis challenge (29.25 vs 28.42; P = .9) and the vascular simulation challenge (27.25 vs 26.83; P = .6). At the program's conclusion, the students demonstrated an increased mean interest in vascular surgery (from 2.3 ± 1.1 to 2.9 ± 1.2; P = .39), an enhanced interest in surgery due to its hands-on nature (from 4.5 ± 0.8 to 4.7 ± 0.6; P = .06), a preference for surgical simulation in teaching fundamental skills (from 3.7 ± 1.0 to 3.9 ± 0.8; P = .31), and an increased awareness of radiation exposure in surgical practice (from 2.5 ± 1.0 to 3.0 ± 1.3; P = .11). Students cited personality fit, exposure during medical school, and identification of a mentor as the most influential factors for pursuing a surgical career. The competitiveness of a residency program and resident workload and lifestyle were least influential. ConclusionsA structured surgical skills curriculum for preclinical medical students increased students' technical skills and fostered a greater appreciation for the hands-on and technical nature of surgery. Moreover, early exposure to vascular surgery enhanced their interest and knowledge of the field. Notably, students believed that medical school does not adequately prepare them for success on surgical rotations and emphasized the importance of personality fit, early exposure, and mentorship in considering a surgical career.

A Longitudinal Assessment of Self-directed Learning Readiness and Development in Medical Students.

Self-directed learning (SDL) competency is important for physicians to stay abreast of advances in their field and to provide the best available evidence-based care to their patients. Therefore, an essential responsibility of medical educators is to ensure the development of SDL skills in their students. The first objective of this study was to investigate longitudinally the degree to which medical students were ready to engage in SDL. The second objective was to examine students' perceptions of their SDL development throughout training. A 2-part study of preclinical and clinical medical students was carried out at a midwestern U.S. university. In Study A, a longitudinal assessment of preclinical medical students' readiness to engage in SDL was conducted by administering an SDL readiness survey (SDLRS). In Study B, third- and fourth-year medical students were asked to reflect on their SDL development, in addition to completing the SDLRS. After validating the Hendry and Ginns version of the SDLRS in preclinical medical students during Study A, we found that 3 of the 4 subscales remained constant over the 3 iterations of the survey while the self-determination subscale increased significantly between the first and third iteration of the survey. In Study B, an analysis of the clinical medical students' comments indicated a perceived increase in their SDL abilities and a growing appreciation of SDL. However, the SDLRS scores of clinical students did not differ from the results observed in preclinical students in Study A. The results of the SDLRS indicated that the experience of students in our medical school has a positive influence on self-determination by the end of the preclinical years. Furthermore, analysis of the reflections of clinical students indicated ongoing development of SDL skills throughout their medical school training that were influenced by a wide range of experiences.

Evaluation of knowledge and attitudes regarding Alzheimer's disease and related dementia among medical students in Palestine: A cross-sectional study.

Dementia, a major global health concern, is an acquired disorder that causes a progressive decline in cognitive abilities, affecting learning and memory, language, executive function, complex attention, perceptual-motor skills, and social cognition. Our study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes regarding dementia and Alzheimer's disease among medical students. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 393 medical students in Palestine from August 2023 to November 2023. The assessment of knowledge and attitude toward dementia was measured using the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the mean between the groups with a 5% significance level. The overall mean score of the student's knowledge of dementia measured by the ADKS was 18.91 (±3.32 SD) out of 30. The mean score of the student's attitude toward dementia measured by the DAS was 91.68 (±3.32 SD). Clinical students had higher ADKS scores than pre-clinical students (p-value < 0.001). No significant differences in the knowledge and attitudes toward dementia were found between males and females. The medical students' knowledge and attitude scores were positively correlated (ρ = 0.227, p-value <0.001). Palestinian medical student's knowledge about Alzheimer's disease and dementia is insufficient, with students in the clinical phase showing better understanding than pre-clinical students. The findings highlight a necessity for enhancing the dementia curriculum and conducting further studies to evaluate training's impact on students' knowledge and attitudes.

Navigating perspectives of students and faculty: Language of instruction in Indian medical education

Background: The introduction of medical education in a regional language in Maharashtra, India, has ignited a wide-ranging discussion within the medical community. It is important to obtain the perspectives of Indian medical students and faculty about the same as it can create a direct impact on their career. This article delves into the various perspectives of students and faculty regarding this initiative. It explores the historical backdrop of medical education in India and the evolving role of language, especially English, within the field. Aims and Objectives: The objective is to obtain the perspectives of students and faculty of medical educational institutes in India and to compare their opinion after grouping them based on their seniority, workplace (native state or migrated), and language of instruction during their schooling. Materials and Methods: The study is a multi-centric observational cross-sectional research conducted by two medical colleges in India (Government Medical College, Surat and RUHS College of Medical Sciences, Jaipur). It encompasses a nationwide online survey carried out by sharing a pre-designed questionnaire as a Google Form link from June to August 2023, following approval from the institutional ethical committees of both medical colleges. The responses were analyzed to compare the perspectives of different groups of participants regarding the need for the English language as well as regional languages for various requirements in the medical field, using Epi-info software version 7.2.5.0. Results: The results reveal that the majority of participants, including undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and faculty prefer English as the medium for medical education. However, the preference for regional languages is relatively higher among pre-clinical students and those with regional language schooling. The study also highlights that most participants believe English is essential for collaboration with the global medical community, higher studies, job opportunities, and competitive exams, whereas regional languages may facilitate a better understanding of concepts and doctor–patient communication. Conclusion: While the majority favors English as the medium for medical education, the introduction of regional languages may have its own merits. The decision to choose the medium of instruction for medical education should consider a balance between the linguistic diversity of India and the need for a globally recognized standard medical education system.

Students’ perception toward traditional versus interactive lectures in preclinical operative dentistry course: A comparative cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: A lecture is one of the most common methods of teaching in higher education. The lecture is generally divided into interactive and traditional. Objectives: This study aimed to assess and compare senior and junior preclinical dental students’ perceptions of interactive lectures versus traditional lectures during the preclinical operative course. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, comparative cross-sectional study among 100 undergraduate students from Igraa College, Sudan. Students from 2 class years were involved; the first one was batch 2 (semester 6) and the second group was batch 3 (semester 5). Fourteen preclinical operative dentistry lectures were delivered to both classes (7 lectures were interactive and 7 were traditional) during the full-time course. At the end of the course, a self-administered questionnaire included questions about students’ demographic data and their perceptions toward traditional and interactive lectures. A comparison between different nonparametric data was done by Chi-square test with the level of significance set at P &lt; 0.05. Results: The response rate was 77%, where male students were 26 (33.8%) and female students were 51 (66.2%). There was no statistically significant difference between sex and class year in terms of the student’s preference for the types of lecture. Female students 42 (54.5%) and male students 24 (31.2%) agreed that interactive lectures increase focus on the material more than traditional lectures. The majority of students from both class years agreed that interactive lectures help them in leadership skills 58 (75.4%) and improving their communication between professors and students 65 (84.4%). Conclusions: interactive teaching has been greatly accepted by students who were accustomed to traditional teaching with differences in the preference of either type of lecture.

Tıp Öğrencilerinin Yapay Zeka Konusundaki Bilgi ve Tutumları: Kesitsel Bir Araştırma

Background:&#x0D; Artificial intelligence (AI) may be explained as robotic systems that are made by humans. These robotic systems are designed based on statistics and used for executing functions of human-like behavior. AI is used in medical fields such as surgical areas and medical education. The purpose of this study was to analyze the knowledge and attitude of medical students at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) about AI in medicine.&#x0D; Methods:&#x0D; A cross-sectional study was conducted among all the medical students in the EMU Faculty of Medicine by using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included 3 parts; participant demographics, knowledge about AI, and attitudes toward AI. The results were collected and inspected via Microsoft Excel. The data from the survey were analyzed by chi-square tests using SPSS v26. &#x0D; Results:&#x0D; 88 medical students responded online survey. Most of the survey responders (77%) were already aware of information related to AI in medicine. The majority of the participants acquired this information from mainly social media and media. Only 26.1% of students indicated that they learned something about AI from lectures. 29.5% of preclinic phase students believe that the human physician will be replaced by AI in the foreseeable future, but the percentage is decreased to 18.5% among clinic phase students. Male students significantly stated that they have a basic understanding of AI (p

The Implication of Virtual Reality Haptic Simulators on Cavity Preparation Proficiency in Dental Preclinical Education: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Preclinical education is an essential part of the dentistry curriculum. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the contribution of the virtual reality haptic simulator to the improvement of cavity preparation skills in preclinical education. Materials and Methods: In this study, the effect of virtual reality was evaluated on the improvement of cavity preparation skills of preclinical students. Three separate databases were searched, and Endnote 20 software was used to duplicate, track, and manage the selection process. Results: After removing duplicate records, a total of 622 articles were initially retrieved in this study. All records were scanned, and 98 articles were evaluated for eligibility. Articles that did not meet the eligibility criteria of our study were excluded. 24 full-text articles were approved for review. Conclusion: Including virtual reality, haptic simulators in the curriculum can be a beneficial tool for students' manual dexterity and improvement of clinical practice.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the medical education system: A Romanian cross-sectional retrospective study

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of new teaching strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic through the students' perspective and their mental health profiles. Methods: Active students from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hațieganu during 2019-2021 retrospectively completed an online questionnaire including inquiries on the education changes and DASS-42 items. Finally, they were divided into preclinical and clinical status. Results: Preclinical students expressed significant compliance with their teachers' handling of practical notions (p=0.04), their teachers' online interaction (p 0.001), and the objectivity of oral exams (p=0.02). More than half of the participants had different levels of depression, anxiety, and stress severity. Levels of depression were significantly associated with housing possibilities and females expressed higher scores on the stress scale. Conclusions: The pandemic brought varying mental disturbances for students while the preclinical/clinical status could delineate distinct views on the new teaching strategies.

Comparison of Facial Aesthetics Perception in Preclinical and Clinical Students of the Faculty of Dentistry, Lambung Mangkurat University

&#x0D; Introduction: Facial aesthetics consist of facial symmetry, soft tissue profile, and vertical proportions of the face. Perception is subjective which means different things for each person. Aesthetic perception in dental students is very important because later in the future they will act as dentists and must understand about functional and aesthetics in the oral and facial cavities, and must be able to meet the needs and expectations of patients. Objective: To compare the perception of facial aesthetics with preclinical and clinical students of the Faculty of Dentistry, Lambung Mangkurat University. Methods: This study used analytical observational method with cross sectional approach. The sample size was calculated using an unpaired numerical comparative analytical formula, obtained by 128 respondents using the simple random sampling technique. Research respondents were given questionnaires totaling 15 photos, namely 5 photos of facial symmetry, 5 soft tissue profile photos, and 5 photos of vertical proportions of faces. The research questionnaire has been tested for validity and reliability. Results: The results of the Mann Whitney Test obtained an overall significance of 0.047 (p &lt;0.05), facial symmetry 0.039 (p &lt;0.05), soft tissue profile 0.385 (p &gt;0.05), and vertical proportion of the face 0.612 (p &gt;0.05). Conclusion: In three components of the assessment, there are differences in perception in facial symmetry, and there are no differences in perception in soft tissue profiles and facial vertical proportions. Overall, there are differences in the perception of facial aesthetics between preclinical students and clinical students of the Faculty of Dentistry, Lambung Mangkurat University.