African Health OER Network: Teaching to Make a Difference: Initial Investigation of Early Students' Clinical Learning

The dearth of dental faculty is a widely known problem that is exacerbated in countries that are attempting to begin dental education programs. This collaboration between Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Dental School (KNUST) and the University of Michigan School of Dentistry (U-M), investigated if dental students who have just started their clinical dental education can learn the knowledge and skills required for identifying and restoring cavitated caries lesions during a compact course delivery. There were three instructional blocks: (A) didactic seminar; (B) seminar, simulated hands-on skills instruction, and clinical observation with schoolchildren; and (c) seminar and simulated skills training, and application to schoolchildren. Each dental student completed a questionnaire measuring knowledge; and perceptions of knowledge, experience and confidence at five points in time. Basic clinical parameters and quality of life measures ware recorded for all schoolchildren. The dental students knowledge increased significantly as well as their perceived knowledge, experience and confidence (p < .000). In general the students showed proficiency in delivering 22 treatments. The cleaning level went up in schoolchildren and the fear factor declined, although not significantly. The project showed that an integrated compact course delivery model may assist emerging dental schools to cope with the challenging shortage of resident faculty. The research and assessment materials are shared in order for others to use in future research projects.