J Educ Eval Health Prof.  2015;12:56. 10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.56.

Dental students' and lecturers' perception of the degree of difficulty of caries detection associated learning topics in Brazil

• Lara JS
• Braga MM
• Shitsuka C
• Wen CL
• Haddad AE

• KMID: 2402063
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.56

Abstract

PURPOSE
It aimed to explore the degree of difficulty of caries-detection-associated-topics perceived by dental students and lecturers as pedagogical step in the development of learning objects for e-learning.
METHODS
A convenience sample comprising ninety-eight subjects from different academic levels (undergraduate/graduate students and pediatric dentistry lecturers) participated. Two spreadsheets (isolated/relative) were created considering key topics in the caries detection process. The isolated evaluation intended to explore each topic in an isolated way, while the relative intended to classify, comparatively, the participants' perceived difficulty per topic. Afterwards, data were analyzed. All values on spreadsheets were combined obtaining the subject's final perception. Associations between the subjects' degree of the perceived difficulty and academic level were estimated. ANOVA was used to determine differences regarding the perception among evaluated topics in distinct groups.
RESULTS
Caries histopathology and detection of proximal carious lesions were the topics perceived as the most difficult in the process of caries detection by both students and lecturers. Differentiation between an extrinsic pigmentation and a brown-spot (caries lesion) as well as differential diagnosis between caries and enamel developmental defects or non-carious lesions were considered as more difficult by undergraduates in comparison to graduates/lecturers (regression-coefficient=14.54; Standard Error=3.34; P<0.001 and 8.40, 3.31, and 0.01 respectively).
CONCLUSION
Topics as histopathology and detection of proximal caries lesions were identified as the most difficult despite the academic level. However, some topics are differently perceived according to the group. These results are useful for developing pedagogical material, based on the students real learning needs/expectations.

Keyword

Cariology; Dental education; Difficulty; e-learning; Learning objects; Perception

MeSH Terms

Brazil*
Dental Enamel
Diagnosis, Differential
Education, Dental
Humans
Learning*
Pediatric Dentistry
Pigmentation
Students, Dental

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Analysis of the combined final score regarding the participants’ perception of the degree of difficulty per topics. UG=Undergraduate students group; G/L=Graduated/Lecturers group. For topics from T1 to T11, please refer to Table 1.

Reference

1. Ismail AI, Tellez M, Pitts NB, Ekstrand KR, Ricketts D, Longbottom C, Eggertsson H, Deery C, Fisher J, Young DA, Featherstone JD, Evans W, Zeller GG, Zero D, Martignon S, Fontana M, Zandona A. Caries management pathways preserve dental tissues and promote oral health. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2013; 41:e12–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12024.

2. Schulte AG, Buchalla W, Huysmans MC, Amaechi BT, Sampaio F, Vougiouklakis G, Pitts NB. A survey on education in cariology for undergraduate dental students in Europe. Eur J Dent Educ. 2011; 15(Suppl 1):3–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0579.2011.00708.x.

3. Pitts NB. Safeguarding the quality of epidemiological caries data at a time of hanging disease patterns and evolving dental services. Community Dent Health. 1993; 10:1–9.

4. Ismail AI. Visual and visuo-tactile detection of dental caries. J Dent Res. 2004; 83:C56–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/154405910408301S12.

5. Ismail AI, Sohn W, Tellez M, Amaya A, Sen A, Hasson H, Pitts NB. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS): an integrated system for measuring dental caries. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2007; 35:170–178. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0528.2007.00347.x.

6. Gimenez T, Piovesan C, Braga MM, Raggio DP, Deery C, Ricketts DN, Ekstrand KR, Mendes FM. Visual inspection for caries detection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent Res. 2015; 94:895–904. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022034515586763.

7. Davis DA, Taylor-Vaisey A. Translating guidelines into practice. A systematic review of theoretic concepts, practical experience and research evidence in the adoption of clinical practice guidelines. CMAJ. 1997; 157:408–416. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1227916/.

8. Robinson PB, Lee JW. The use of real time video magnification for the pre-clinical teaching of crown preparations. Br Dent J. 2001; 190:506–510. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4801016.

9. Schulte AG, Pitts NB. First consensus workshop on the development of a European curriculum in cariology. Eur J Dent Educ. 2011; 15(Suppl 1):1–2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0579.2011.00707.x.

10. Sweller J. Cognitive load theory, learning difficulty, and instructional design. Learn Instr. 1994; 4:295–312.

11. Brisbourne MAS, Chin SSL, Melnyk E, Begg DA. Using web-based animations to teach histology. Anat Rec. 2002; 269:11–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/AR.10054.

12. Fontana M, Zero D. Bridging the gap in caries management between research and practice through education: the Indiana University experience. J Dent Educ. 2007; 71:579–591. http://jdentaled.org/content/71/5/579.long.

13. Schwendicke F, Meyer-Lueckel H, Stolpe M, Dörfer CE, Paris S. Costs and effectiveness of treatment alternatives for proximal caries lesions. PLoS One. 2014; 9:e86992. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0086992.

14. Martignon S, Ekstrand KR, Gomez J, Lara JS, Cortes A. Infiltrating/sealing proximal caries lesions: a 3-year randomized clinical trial. J Dent Res. 2012; 91:288–292. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022034511435328.

15. Mialhe FL, Pereira AC, Pardi V, de Castro Meneghim M. Comparison of three methods for detection of carious lesions in proximal surfaces versus direct visual examination after tooth separation. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2003; 28:59–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.17796/jcpd.28.1.g121387868676514.

16. Ekstrand KR, Luna LE, Promisiero L, Cortes A, Cuevas S, Reyes JF, Torres CE, Martignon S. The reliability and accuracy of two methods for proximal caries detection and depth on directly visible proximal surfaces: an in vitro study. Caries Res. 2011; 45:93–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000324439.

17. Celiberti P, Leamari VM, Imparato JC, Braga MM, Mendes FM. In vitro ability of a laser fluorescence device in quantifying approximal caries lesions in primary molars. J Dent. 2010; 38:666–670. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2010.05.005.