title: How neuroscience is taught to North American dental students: results of the Basic Science Survey Series.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine how North American dental students are taught neuroscience during their preclinical dental education. This survey represents one part of a larger research project, the Basic Science Survey Series for Dentistry, which covers all of the biomedical science coursework required of preclinical students in North American dental schools. Members of the Section on Anatomical Sciences of the American Dental Education Association assembled, distributed, and analyzed the neuroscience survey, which had a 98.5 percent response from course directors of the sixty-seven North American dental schools. The eighteen-item instrument collected demographic data on the course directors, information on the content in each course, and information on how neuroscience content is presented. Findings indicate that 1) most neuroscience instruction is conducted by non-dental school faculty members; 2) large content variability exists between programs; and 3) an increase in didactic instruction, integrated curricula, and use of computer-aided instruction is occurring. It is anticipated that the information derived from the survey will help guide neuroscience curricula in dental schools and aid in identifying appropriate content.
authors.affiliation: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, 505 O'Dowd Hall, 2200 N. Squirrel Road, Rochester, MI 48309-4401;. djgould@oakland.edu.
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: Mackenzie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Clarkson
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hutchins
authors.forename: H Wayne
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D001690:Biological Science Disciplines / Q000193:education; D002170:Canada; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D009445:Neuroanatomy / Q000193:education; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000193:education*; D013335:Students, Dental; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: basic science education; dental education; dental school curriculum; interprofessional education; neuroanatomy; neuroscience