AN EVALUATION OF THE FINAL YEAR DENTAL STUDENTS’ GERIATRIC ORAL HEALTH COMMUNITY PROGRAMME

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching-learning in geriatric oral health community programme of final year students, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Small group geriatric oral health community programme formed part of the curriculum for final year students. Groups were facilitated to prepare an activity that will be carried out at community geriatric institutions. Group activities carried out required students to apply oral health planning and promotion concepts taught prior to the activity. At the end of an eight week preparation, students implemented a day program at the institution. The teaching learning effectiveness was evaluated using a self administered questionnaire measuring three segments: fulfillment of programme objectives, assessment of facilitators and programme processes, and overall satisfaction of the programme conduct. Data was collected two weeks after completion of the students’ respective visits. Fifty out of 52 students (96.2%) responded. Of these, forty-nine students (98%) were either “somewhat satisfied” or “satisfied” with the programme conducted. Majority of the students agreed that the programme managed to sensitize them in having caring attitude towards the elderly; enabled better interaction with them and made the students realized the importance of teamwork in executing community project. Despite administrative weakness in conducting the program, students nevertheless agreed with the relevance and importance of exposure to community geriatric dental education in their curriculum.

Keywords: geriatric dentistry, undergraduate community programme, dental public health