Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jul 22, 2023
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 22, 2023 - Sep 16, 2023
Date Accepted: Jan 3, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
The Impact of an Online Restorative Dentistry Course on the Learning Outcomes of Dental Graduates: A Pre-Experimental Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Restorative Dentistry plays is a crucial role in dental practice, and it is essential of dental professionals to stay up to date with the latest advancement in the field. Online learning has become as a popular mode of education delivery in dentistry, offering learners access to a vast amount of information and flexibility.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an online educational program in restorative dentistry for dental graduates in Syria.
Methods:
This study utilised a pre-experimental study design, with pre-test and post-test assessments to measure changes in participants' knowledge and skills. A total of 21 dental graduates completed the online course in restorative dentistry, which was hosted on Moodle, using the Learning Management System (LMS) of the Syrian Virtual University (SVU). The participants were given a suggested sequence for optimal learning and were also allowed to access and navigate the course at their own pace. The course was developed based on the principles of web course design and online course development using the ADDIE General Instructional Design Model. The pre-test and post-test assessments consisted of 50 multiple-choice questions with a single correct answer and were based on the course content. Additionally, participants were also asked to complete a course acceptance survey at the end of the course.
Results:
The results showed a significant improvement in the participants' knowledge of restorative dentistry, with a statistically significant P-value<0.05. The effect size of the difference between the pre and post-test using Omega squared indicated that the effect size was 62.1%, indicating high and statistically significant effects. The value of Haridy's Obtained Work Ratio (H-OWr) formula also indicated that the educational program was effective, with an effectiveness amount of 3.36%. Additionally, 93% of respondents believed that they gained the expected benefit from the educational course after its completion.
Conclusions:
This study provides evidence that online learning can be an effective tool in improving knowledge and skills of dental graduates in restorative dentistry. The high satisfaction rate expressed by the participants and the positive feedback received through the course acceptance survey further indicate that the online learning was well received by the participants. Online learning in restorative dentistry can help dental professionals stay up to date which can ultimately benefit the patients they serve. Clinical Trial: NA
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© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.