title: A study to determine if changes to an undergraduate orthodontic course improved course quality and student satisfaction.
abstract: A study was carried out to determine if changes to the undergraduate orthodontic course at Leeds Dental Institute resulted in increased student satisfaction. The study was based on a questionnaire distributed to dental students comprising statements related to the undergraduate orthodontic course. Questionnaires were distributed in 1993 and 1995 to 2 groups of 4th year undergraduate dental students at the same stage of their course on both occasions. Questions were in the form of 16 statements with which students expressed a level of agreement, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The numbers of responses at each level of agreement were compared between the 2 groups. Statistical differences were determined using a Mann Whitney-U test. 8 of the 16 statements had more favourable responses in 1995 than in 1993. No statement received a less favourable response in 1995 than in 1993. It is concluded that changes in the undergraduate orthodontic course at Leeds Dental Institute aimed at increased problem-based learning and clinician-led tutorials, have resulted in improved student satisfaction with the teaching.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Dental Health, Leeds University, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kindelan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberts-Harry
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luther
mesh_terms: D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000193:education*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires