Undergraduate dental curricula in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking African Nations − A cross-sectional study

PurposeTo evaluate the design of undergraduate curricula, teaching and learning practices, assessments, admission criteria and quality assurance in dental schools across Middle Eastern and Arab-speaking African nations. MethodologyA cross-sectional survey was sent to 40 dental colleges in the Middle...

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Main Author: Lovely, Muthiah Annamma (author)
Other Authors: Al Khabuli, Jumma (author), Ali Azim, Sabrin (author), Abutayyem, Huda (author), Alkhuboli, Mohamed (author), Subaveerapandiyan, A. (author), Glanville, Rebecca (author), Ali, Kamran (author)
Format: article
Published: 2024
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.10.003
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905224002888
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/60940
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author Lovely, Muthiah Annamma
author2 Al Khabuli, Jumma
Ali Azim, Sabrin
Abutayyem, Huda
Alkhuboli, Mohamed
Subaveerapandiyan, A.
Glanville, Rebecca
Ali, Kamran
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author_facet Lovely, Muthiah Annamma
Al Khabuli, Jumma
Ali Azim, Sabrin
Abutayyem, Huda
Alkhuboli, Mohamed
Subaveerapandiyan, A.
Glanville, Rebecca
Ali, Kamran
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Lovely, Muthiah Annamma
Al Khabuli, Jumma
Ali Azim, Sabrin
Abutayyem, Huda
Alkhuboli, Mohamed
Subaveerapandiyan, A.
Glanville, Rebecca
Ali, Kamran
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-11-10T05:43:06Z
2024-11-02
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.10.003
Lovely Muthiah Annamma et al., The Saudi Dental Journal, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.10.003
10139052
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905224002888
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/60940
2524-1702
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Curriculum, dentistry
Admission criteria
Arabic- speaking
Undergraduate
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Undergraduate dental curricula in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking African Nations − A cross-sectional study
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
description PurposeTo evaluate the design of undergraduate curricula, teaching and learning practices, assessments, admission criteria and quality assurance in dental schools across Middle Eastern and Arab-speaking African nations. MethodologyA cross-sectional survey was sent to 40 dental colleges in the Middle East and African Arabic-speaking countries. A purposefully designed proforma consisting of 21 items divided into five sections based on admission criteria, curriculum delivery, teaching and learning practices, assessment methods, and quality assurance was used for data collection on Google forms. Participation in the survey was voluntary and all participants were consented before data collection. The data was analysed for descriptive statistics. ResultsA total of 28 dental institutions participated in the study yielding a response rate of 70 %. The data showed variations in the admission criteria, curricula, and assessment methods. The reliability statistics were satisfactory (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89). ANOVA showed significant differences were noted in the clinical experience of students by country and curriculum design (p ≤ 0.001). Gaps were also identified in the quality assurance processes at some of the participating institutions. ConclusionThis study provides a snapshot of undergraduate dental education in the Middle East and Arabic speaking African countries. Although a majority of the institutions follow a student-centered approach, some in institutions still follow the traditional teacher-centered approach which is not consistent with the contemporary strategies in healthcare education. The admission criteria are based on high school grades albeit with some variations. The duration of dental programs is five years at most institutions with or without an additional foundation year. Variations were also noted in the assessment weightings, clinical targets and quality assurance procedures. Further collaboration is required to facilitate harmonization of dental curricula in the region, solicit international recognition and to better support their graduates in pursuing postgraduate studies and employment options.
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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identifier_str_mv Lovely Muthiah Annamma et al., The Saudi Dental Journal, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.10.003
10139052
2524-1702
language_invalid_str_mv en
network_acronym_str qu
network_name_str Qatar University repository
oai_identifier_str oai:qspace.qu.edu.qa:10576/60940
publishDate 2024
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
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rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
spelling Undergraduate dental curricula in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking African Nations − A cross-sectional studyLovely, Muthiah AnnammaAl Khabuli, JummaAli Azim, SabrinAbutayyem, HudaAlkhuboli, MohamedSubaveerapandiyan, A.Glanville, RebeccaAli, KamranCurriculum, dentistryAdmission criteriaArabic- speakingUndergraduatePurposeTo evaluate the design of undergraduate curricula, teaching and learning practices, assessments, admission criteria and quality assurance in dental schools across Middle Eastern and Arab-speaking African nations. MethodologyA cross-sectional survey was sent to 40 dental colleges in the Middle East and African Arabic-speaking countries. A purposefully designed proforma consisting of 21 items divided into five sections based on admission criteria, curriculum delivery, teaching and learning practices, assessment methods, and quality assurance was used for data collection on Google forms. Participation in the survey was voluntary and all participants were consented before data collection. The data was analysed for descriptive statistics. ResultsA total of 28 dental institutions participated in the study yielding a response rate of 70 %. The data showed variations in the admission criteria, curricula, and assessment methods. The reliability statistics were satisfactory (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89). ANOVA showed significant differences were noted in the clinical experience of students by country and curriculum design (p ≤ 0.001). Gaps were also identified in the quality assurance processes at some of the participating institutions. ConclusionThis study provides a snapshot of undergraduate dental education in the Middle East and Arabic speaking African countries. Although a majority of the institutions follow a student-centered approach, some in institutions still follow the traditional teacher-centered approach which is not consistent with the contemporary strategies in healthcare education. The admission criteria are based on high school grades albeit with some variations. The duration of dental programs is five years at most institutions with or without an additional foundation year. Variations were also noted in the assessment weightings, clinical targets and quality assurance procedures. Further collaboration is required to facilitate harmonization of dental curricula in the region, solicit international recognition and to better support their graduates in pursuing postgraduate studies and employment options.Open access funding for this study was provided by the Journal Unit, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.Elsevier2024-11-10T05:43:06Z2024-11-02Articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.10.003Lovely Muthiah Annamma et al., The Saudi Dental Journal, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.10.00310139052https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905224002888http://hdl.handle.net/10576/609402524-1702enhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:qspace.qu.edu.qa:10576/609402024-11-10T19:06:35Z
spellingShingle Undergraduate dental curricula in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking African Nations − A cross-sectional study
Lovely, Muthiah Annamma
Curriculum, dentistry
Admission criteria
Arabic- speaking
Undergraduate
status_str publishedVersion
title Undergraduate dental curricula in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking African Nations − A cross-sectional study
title_full Undergraduate dental curricula in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking African Nations − A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Undergraduate dental curricula in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking African Nations − A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Undergraduate dental curricula in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking African Nations − A cross-sectional study
title_short Undergraduate dental curricula in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking African Nations − A cross-sectional study
title_sort Undergraduate dental curricula in Middle Eastern and Arabic-speaking African Nations − A cross-sectional study
topic Curriculum, dentistry
Admission criteria
Arabic- speaking
Undergraduate
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.10.003
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905224002888
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/60940