Evaluation of a revised curriculum: a four-year qualitative study of student perceptions.
Following curricular revisions at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, this longitudinal study was designed to determine students' perceptions of their educational experience in the revised curriculum. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) open-ended response questionnaire was administered to students in the class of 2011 (N=89) in January of each academic year, 2008 through 2011, followed by focus groups three months prior to graduation. The overall response rate for the questionnaire was 69 percent, and a total of fourteen students participated in four focus groups. Cumulatively, 1,382 responses (SWOT=984 and focus groups=398) were qualitatively analyzed, and five themes emerged: 1) early clinical experiences led to a perceived readiness for direct patient care; 2) the pace and organization of the revised condensed preclinical curriculum were perceived as hectic yet were appreciated as necessary preparation for patient care; 3) most faculty members were seen as committed to student learning, but a few were reported to have poor teaching skills and attitudes when interacting with students; 4) a perceived lack of patients led to fewer clinical experiences and a decrease in student confidence; and 5) some curricular content was seen to be redundant and irrelevant to future practice. The results indicate that the students were satisfied with aspects of their educational experience, suggesting the revised curriculum's preliminary success in meeting its goals of earlier patient care, a condensed preclinical curriculum, and a student-friendly environment. As the curriculum is adapted in response to student feedback, ongoing evaluation is necessary and should be complemented by other evaluation indicators such as faculty perceptions and student learning outcomes.
School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 521 North 11th Street, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. sklanning@vcu.edu
Sharon K
SK
Lanning
Angela P
AP
Wetzel
Meredith B
MB
Baines
B
B
Ellen Byrne
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D003729:Dental Care; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004497:Education, Dental; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007858:Learning; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D017748:Time Management; D014768:Virginia