title: Evaluation of undergraduate clinical learning experiences in the subject of pediatric dentistry using critical incident technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In pediatric dentistry, the experiences of dental students may help dental educators better prepare graduates to treat the children. Research suggests that student's perceptions should be considered in any discussion of their education, but there has been no systematic examination of India's undergraduate dental students learning experiences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This qualitative investigation aimed to gather and analyze information about experiences in pediatric dentistry from the students' viewpoint using critical incident technique (CIT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample group for this investigation came from all 240 3rd and 4th year dental students from all the four dental colleges in Indore. Using CIT, participants were asked to describe at least one positive and one negative experience in detail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  They described 308 positive and 359 negative experiences related to the pediatric dentistry clinic. Analysis of the data resulted in the identification of four key factors related to their experiences: 1) The instructor; 2) the patient; 3) the learning process; and 4) the learning environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CIT is a useful data collection and analysis technique that provides rich, useful data and has many potential uses in dental education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vyawahare
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Banda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choubey
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parvekar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barodiya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dutta
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000458:organization & administration; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D004777:Environment; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000193:education*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013335:Students, Dental; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D000078329:Workforce