DENTAL CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT BY ENGAGING STUDENTS: THE NEED OF TIME

Objective: To identify the strengths & weaknesses of current curriculum of dentistry for a future integrated curriculum. Study Design: A qualitative explorative study. Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted at Foundation University College of Dentistry, Islamabad, from Feb to Aug 2017. Methodology: We conducted a two session focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with equally stratified students according to their academic achievements i.e. high achievers (70-80%) and low achievers (56-62%) grades in Oral Biology. A total of 14 students, 7 from each high and low achievers group participated in each FGD session. Results: Students reservations were based on 6 themes, which are; i) Teaching method, ii) Difficulties in 1st year BDS education, iii) State of cooperation between teachers and students, iv) Status of qualified and experienced regular faculty and v) Role of students in curriculum development and vi) Lack of interactive sessions and discussions. Conclusion: This study findings show the strengths & weaknesses of current curriculum of dentistry and that the status of curriculum can be improved by integrating multiple modes of teaching and that the students should be involved in an interactive discussions and debates on various basic concepts in an interactive class. Integrated curriculum of dentistry is the need of time.

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