Efficacy of using the Electronic learning on education quality of oral and maxillofacial practical pathology in dental students of Tabriz university of Medical sciences

Abstract

The rapid development in computer technology and the wide availability of personal computers together with the Internet, email, and various medical literature retrieval applications have changed both the study and the practice environments in dentistry, as in other disciplines. Electronic learning allows students to work at their own time and place. In the field of pathology, this is even more important because by traditional methods the review of lessons is only applicable in labs. This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a new educational technique in the field of applied pathology in dentistry. Materials & Methods: In this semiexperimental, combined retrospective and prospective study, 82 dental students were recruited from Tabriz Faculty of Dentistry. The final grades of the students in the field of applied pathology were documented in 41 students that course was based on a traditional approach (Traditional Group). In the other group, however, a software including multimedia information associated with the slides of pathologic specimens was incorporated into the same traditional course and the grades were documented (New Group). Results: The mean grade of applied pathology was 16.233.36 (range 8-20) in the New Group and 15.223.52 (range 5-20) in the Traditional Group. Accordingly, the mean grade of the students in the New Group was higher than that in the Traditional Group; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.19). Conclusions: Based on our results, the grades of applied pathology in dentistry may be enhanced when the traditional course is along with a supplementary multimedia software.