Department of Dental Materials, Faculty of Dentistry, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University, Bedong, Kedah, 08100, Malaysia.
Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University, Bedong, Kedah, 08100, Malaysia.
BMC Oral Health. 2023 Aug 13;23(1):571. doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03293-4.
Effective teaching of dental materials science is crucial for dental students to develop a comprehensive understanding of materials used in clinical practice. However, literature on educators' views on teaching this subject is still scarce. This qualitative study aimed to explore the lived experiences of dental educators in teaching dental materials science subjects, thereby addressing potential gaps and enhancing teaching practices.
Thirteen dental educators from East and Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan) participated in the present study. The present study adopted a transcendental phenomenological approach. One-to-one semi-structured online interviews were conducted. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns in the educators' experiences.
Three themes emerged from the present study. First, perceptions of the importance of dental materials science, highlighting its relevance in clinical practice, patient care, and lifelong learning. Second, the challenges faced in teaching dental materials science include limited instructional time, complex content, and insufficient resources. Third, specific strategies, such as applying interactive teaching methods, integrating clinical scenarios, and promoting critical thinking skills have been suggested to enhance teaching and learning.
Understanding dental educators' experiences can improve dental materials science education, curriculum development, teaching methods, and faculty training programmes, ultimately enhancing the knowledge and skills of dental students in this field.
有效教授口腔材料学对于口腔医学生全面理解临床实践中使用的材料至关重要。然而，关于教育工作者教授这门学科的观点的文献仍然很少。本定性研究旨在探讨口腔教育工作者在教授口腔材料学课程方面的真实体验，从而弥补潜在差距并提高教学实践。
来自东亚和东南亚国家（马来西亚、中国、印度尼西亚、泰国、韩国和日本）的 13 名口腔教育工作者参与了本研究。本研究采用了先验现象学方法。进行了一对一的半结构式在线访谈。访谈进行了录音并逐字转录。采用主题分析来识别教育工作者体验中的模式。
本研究出现了三个主题。首先，对口腔材料学重要性的看法，强调其在临床实践、患者护理和终身学习中的相关性。其次，教授口腔材料学所面临的挑战包括有限的教学时间、复杂的内容和不足的资源。第三，提出了一些具体策略，如应用互动式教学方法、整合临床情景和促进批判性思维技能，以增强教学和学习。
了解口腔教育工作者的经验可以改善口腔材料学教育、课程开发、教学方法和教师培训计划，最终提高学生在这一领域的知识和技能。
