IADR Abstract Archives
Dental and Dental Hygiene Students’ Responses to Group Assignments Before COVID-19 and in 2020 and 2021
Objectives: In times of COVID-19, group projects have to take place in a virtual world and not as in-person projects. The objectives were to explore what dental and dental hygiene students thought about group assignments before COVID-19, in 2020 and in 2021. Specifically, it was assessed how much they liked group projects, which group members they would want, which group processes they considered as important, and how they would like to have assignments organized.
Methods: 592 dental students and 152 dental hygiene students responded to an anonymous survey.
Results: A higher percentage of students agreed/strongly agreed in 2021 that they liked working in groups than in 2020 and the lowest percentage who liked group work was found in 2018/19 (5-point answer scale with 5=agree strongly: 49.3%/40.8%/34.7%;p<0.001). This same trend was also found in responses to the statement “I enjoy working in groups” (34.5%/38.4%/48.7%; p<0.001). When compared to the responses before COVID, the responses during COVID changed to being more concerned about active involvement and contributions. The percentages of agreement with the statements “It is important that group members work well with others” (2018/9:88.7%/2020:95.1%/2021:97.3%;p<0.001) and “…are open-minded” (84.4%/93.1%/96.4%;p<0.001) show this trend. This trend was also found in responses related to statements concerning how important different group characteristics are such as that the group gives good feedback (percentage of agreement in 2018/9:82.8%/in2020:97.6% and in 2021: 91.8%;p<0.001). Higher percentages of students agreed that it was important to have explicit details of the project during COVID than before (2018/9:85.3%/2020:97.1%/2021:94.7%; p<0.001) and comes with resources such as references (2018/9:73.6%/2020::82.6%/2021:80.1%; p=0.016). Responses concerning where group work can be done also changed. Responses to the statement “It is important that group work can be done outside of the classroom” showed this trend (2018/19:54.7%/2020:72.6%/2021:65.1%;p<0.001)
Conclusions: Given that healthcare professionals' collaborations with others are crucial for assuring the best possible patient care, future research should focus on gaining a better understanding of how to best educate future providers about working with others under different environmental conditions.
Methods: 592 dental students and 152 dental hygiene students responded to an anonymous survey.
Results: A higher percentage of students agreed/strongly agreed in 2021 that they liked working in groups than in 2020 and the lowest percentage who liked group work was found in 2018/19 (5-point answer scale with 5=agree strongly: 49.3%/40.8%/34.7%;p<0.001). This same trend was also found in responses to the statement “I enjoy working in groups” (34.5%/38.4%/48.7%; p<0.001). When compared to the responses before COVID, the responses during COVID changed to being more concerned about active involvement and contributions. The percentages of agreement with the statements “It is important that group members work well with others” (2018/9:88.7%/2020:95.1%/2021:97.3%;p<0.001) and “…are open-minded” (84.4%/93.1%/96.4%;p<0.001) show this trend. This trend was also found in responses related to statements concerning how important different group characteristics are such as that the group gives good feedback (percentage of agreement in 2018/9:82.8%/in2020:97.6% and in 2021: 91.8%;p<0.001). Higher percentages of students agreed that it was important to have explicit details of the project during COVID than before (2018/9:85.3%/2020:97.1%/2021:94.7%; p<0.001) and comes with resources such as references (2018/9:73.6%/2020::82.6%/2021:80.1%; p=0.016). Responses concerning where group work can be done also changed. Responses to the statement “It is important that group work can be done outside of the classroom” showed this trend (2018/19:54.7%/2020:72.6%/2021:65.1%;p<0.001)
Conclusions: Given that healthcare professionals' collaborations with others are crucial for assuring the best possible patient care, future research should focus on gaining a better understanding of how to best educate future providers about working with others under different environmental conditions.