RESUMEN
Background The advent of clear aligners represents a significant shift in orthodontic treatment, offering an aesthetic and convenient alternative to traditional braces and helping maintain better oral hygiene as it is removable. This study investigates the awareness and perception of clear aligners among dental, medical, and paramedical students in Belagavi, India. Methodology A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in February 2024 among students from a private medical university in Belagavi. A validated questionnaire (content validity ratio = 0.88; Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.86), developed through expert consultation and pilot testing, assessed the awareness and perception of students on clear aligners. Simple random sampling was used to select 480 participants. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, and binary logistic regression. Results The study found that awareness and perception of clear aligners were the lowest among medical and paramedical students in comparison with dental students. A positive linear correlation was seen between awareness and perception scores. When specialty was taken into consideration, medical/dental students were 2.55 times more aware and had 2.78 times more positive perceptions toward clear aligners compared to paramedical students. Conclusions There was a notable disparity in the awareness and perception of clear aligners among dental, medical, and paramedical students. Medical and paramedical students displayed lower awareness and unfavorable perception toward clear aligners in comparison with dental students.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Dental education in India predominantly relies on traditional lecture-based learning (LBL), which may hinder student engagement and learning outcomes. To address these limitations, innovative learning methodologies, such as spaced repetition learning (SRL), are imperative. SRL prioritizes active recall and can enhance long-term knowledge retention. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of SRL delivered through a mobile flashcard application, in enhancing knowledge retention among dental undergraduates. METHODS: This single-blind randomized controlled trial (CTRI/2023/10/059347), conducted in Belagavi, India, involved 90 dental students who were equally distributed into control (LBL) and test (lecture followed by SRL demonstration) groups after randomization. Rigorous expert review ensured the quality of PowerPoint presentation and mobile flashcard contents. Knowledge assessments were conducted at baseline, first, and third months using a validated and reliable questionnaire. A perception survey on learning techniques was administered after the first month. Analysis methods included descriptive analysis, Pearson's chi-square test, independent t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni's post hoc test. RESULTS: The pre- and post-intervention knowledge showed no significant differences, but the SRL group exhibited significantly higher retention at both first month (p ≤ 0.001) and third months (p ≤ 0.001) than the LBL group. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant pairwise differences in mean knowledge scores in SRL group. Students had significantly favorable perception toward SRL than LBL group. CONCLUSION: SRL delivered through mobile flashcards significantly enhances knowledge retention compared to LBL among dental students. Positive student perceptions support SRL's integration into dental curricula, with implications for improving knowledge retention among them.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The National Dental Commission Bill of 2023 introduced the National Exit Test (NExT) as a common final examination for all dental graduates in India, granting them the license to practice. This study evaluated dental undergraduates' awareness and perceptions of the newly proposed NExT. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire in English comprising 23 close-ended questions was used to assess the awareness and perception of the students. A pilot study was conducted to determine the sample size, and 510 students were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The survey was administered to students ranging from 1st to 4th-year undergraduates and interns from two dental colleges in the Belagavi District, India. The questionnaire demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.86) and a content validity ratio 0.82. RESULTS: Interns had the highest mean awareness (39.56 ± 8.99) and perception (40.87 ± 5.56) scores, whereas first-year students had the lowest, with statistically significant differences among the groups (p ≤ 0.001). Although 81% of students were aware of NExT in India, only 17.3% found it student-friendly. A positive correlation was seen between the perception and awareness scores (r = + 0.242; p ≤ 0.001). The dependence of awareness and perception scores on predictors such as age, gender, and year of study were 16.7% and 15.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Interns displayed a positive perception and higher awareness of NExT, whereas first and second-year dental students exhibited lower awareness and apprehensive perceptions. The introduction of NExT promises to enhance the overall quality of dental education on a national scale by providing high-quality care to patients.