Opinions of dental students about practical training for histology and pathology courses

Abstract

Background: Students perceptions and observations have a significant impact on the academic progress.

Target: The aim of this study is to identify the perceptions of dental students regarding the training method used in the study of histology and pathology courses, in addition to their perceptions and suggestions regarding the modification of this method.

Materials research: This study was conducted in the first semester of the academic year (2023-2024) by submitting an electronic questionnaire to dental students in the second, third, fourth or fifth year who are studying or have completed their studies in histology and pathology. The number of respondents to the questionnaire reached (265) male and female students belonging to dental faculties in Syrian public and private universities and First-year students were excluded, so the number of participants was (225). %22.22)) of the participants (N. 50) were female and (77.78%) of the participants (N. 175) were males.

The questionnaire included two main topics, where the first topic included students suggestions to modify the practical training method and their perceptions regarding relying on light microscopy or relying on the optical projector connected to the computer, and the second topic included students' opinions on the method of practical training and their observations on dealing with the traditional light microscope. We used the Likert tertiary statistical scale. We used the statistical program SPSS version 29 to analyze the data. The electronic questionnaire consisted of (20) questions between closed and open questions covering different aspects of practical training.

Results: The study showed that histology and pathology courses came in third place out of nine preferred courses for students with) 34.2 %(, oral histology came first among the most preferred courses with (44.89 %(, while the general histology course came in last place with (19.55 %(. The percentage of students who never preferred histology and pathology courses was) 21.3 %(.

((%44.89  agreed on the need to study only about microscopes، while the majority of students 64.4% believe that it is necessary to cancel dealing with the microscope and rely on presentations from the computer.

23.1) %) of students believe that it is necessary to reduce the number of Biopsies studied within the practical training session while (62.2 % (refused to increase the number of Biopsies studied.

( 65.8 %) believe in the need to give theoretical guidance at the beginning of each practical training session, and the majority of students believe by ( 70.7%) of the need to increase the number of doctors and ( 46.2%)  believe that it is necessary to cancel the drawing of the studied textile Biopsies on the notebook within the practical training session.

) 59.1%) believe that the practical training method is not boring. (39.1%) believe it is not fun) 42.7%) believe that it needs to be modified and (68.4%) believe it is acceptable.

(42.7%) believe that dealing with light microscope was difficult and (57.3%) believe the opposite.

The majority of students (94.2 %) believe that presenting Biopsies on the display screen and with computers is more useful than studying the Biopsies under the microscope, while (3.1%) believe that it is not useful.

Conclusion: Our study showed that the majority of students prefer:

1. Make some modifications to the practical training method.
2. Give theoretical guidance at the beginning of each practical session.
3. Dispensing with studying slides under a light microscope.
4. Dispensing with drawing the studied biopsies on the notebook during the practical training session.
5. Relying on the display screen and through the computer to study the biopsies.

Keywords: Histology, Pathology, Dental Students, faculty of dentistry, Opinions.