Comparison of Pre-clerkship and Clerkship Dentistry Students' Perspectives on Implant Education: A Cross-Section from Türkiye

OpenAlex İngilizce

PURPOSE: To compare pre-clerkship and clerkship dental student groups to evaluate the effects of undergraduate education and clinical clerkship on dental student perspectives on implant treatment and education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This survey study was conducted on all dentistry students at two universities in Turkey. Data were collected between June and July 2024 through a digital survey containing various questionnaires regarding student knowledge, attitudes, perspectives, and future plans regarding dental implant treatment and education. All surveys were validated and reliable, with Turkish validity confirmed. Survey data compared responses from pre-clerkship and clerkship groups. RESULTS: A total of 394 students participated in this study. The overall response rate to the survey was 43.7%. Of the participants, 55.8% were in the pre-clerkship group and 44.2% were in the clerkship group. Statistically significant relationships were determined for both self-assessment knowledge and attitude levels between the pre-clerkship and clerkship groups (P < .05). The pre-clerkship group often expressed uncertainty, stating phrases like 'no knowledge,' 'I cannot estimate,' or 'no opinion,' whereas the clerkship group demonstrated greater self-confidence. Both groups agreed on the necessity of undergraduate implant education, but the pre-clerkship group (71.9%) preferred the inclusion of clinical practice education more often than the clerkship group (57.8%). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that a combination of theoretical education and clinical observation in the undergraduate curriculum enhances student perception of implant treatment and education. However, there is still a need to improve theoretical education and incorporate practical application into the curriculum to achieve optimal outcomes.