IADR Abstract Archives
Transition From Preclinical to Clinic: Perceived Stress of Dental Students
Objectives: For dental students, the transition to clinical practice might be stressful. However, there is limited literature on this topic. The aim of the study is to compare the perceived stress level of dental students in the same class one year before and after beginning clinical practice.
Methods: The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was administered to 64 third-year dental students at Usak University Faculty of Dentistry during the academic year 2021–2022. One year later, the same students who transitioned to clinical practice were administered the same survey again. The variable of this study was the transition to clinical practice.
The statistical evaluation of the analyses was carried out using SPSS 23. The percentage distribution, t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, ANOVA test, and Tukey test were used for inter-group comparisons of the data, and the results were evaluated at a significance level of p<0.05.
Results: A total of 36 female and 28 male students aged between 20 and 30 was included into the study. There was no significant difference in total scores between genders before and after the intervention (p>0.05). A significant difference was found in the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) scores between pre- and post-application assessments (p=0.00). Moreover, significant differences were observed in items 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 10 of the PSS-10 (p<0.05). The dependent sample t-test indicated a significant difference in smoking habits within one year (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Clinical practice is of importance to impact student perceptions of stress. Therefore, it is recommended that an adaptation process should be performed for the transition from preclinic to clinic.
Methods: The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was administered to 64 third-year dental students at Usak University Faculty of Dentistry during the academic year 2021–2022. One year later, the same students who transitioned to clinical practice were administered the same survey again. The variable of this study was the transition to clinical practice.
The statistical evaluation of the analyses was carried out using SPSS 23. The percentage distribution, t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, ANOVA test, and Tukey test were used for inter-group comparisons of the data, and the results were evaluated at a significance level of p<0.05.
Results: A total of 36 female and 28 male students aged between 20 and 30 was included into the study. There was no significant difference in total scores between genders before and after the intervention (p>0.05). A significant difference was found in the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) scores between pre- and post-application assessments (p=0.00). Moreover, significant differences were observed in items 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 10 of the PSS-10 (p<0.05). The dependent sample t-test indicated a significant difference in smoking habits within one year (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Clinical practice is of importance to impact student perceptions of stress. Therefore, it is recommended that an adaptation process should be performed for the transition from preclinic to clinic.