Perception of Dental Students on Instructional Videos as Teaching Tools

Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze dental students' perceptions of the use of instructional videos as didactic-pedagogical tools.
Methods: A video addressing syphilis and its oral manifestations was created specifically for this study. First- to third-year dental students from a Federal University in Brazil watched the video and then responded to a semi-structured questionnaire with closed-ended questions. Absolute and relative frequency analyses were performed.
Results: The majority, 56 students (88.89%), agreed that the video was an effective tool for facilitating content comprehension. Additionally, 60 students (95.24%) fully agreed that the video enhanced their understanding of the professor’s explanation. Furthermore, 50 students (79.37%) fully agreed that the video supported discussion during in-person activities. However, 28 students (44.45%) partially or completely disagreed with the idea that the video could replace the professor’s presence in the classroom.
Conclusions: It can be concluded that instructional videos play a significant role in the transmission of information in dental education, with the potential to enhance learning outcomes. They offer an innovative and valuable educational tool, while in-person instruction remains essential for certain aspects of learning.