Adaptation of clinical subjects in dentistry to virtual environments during the COVID‐19 pandemic in a spanish university: A case study

Abstract

The evolution of the pandemic has generated a crisis in all areas, also including the faculties of dentistry. We detail how the teaching guides for clinical subjects have been adapted in the Department of Clinical Dentistry at the Universidad Europea of Madrid, moving to a 100% on-line environment.

Usual development of clinical practices in the DDS degree of UEM students in the 4th and 5th year of DDS degree take the courses "Introduction to Clinical Practice" and "Supervised Practice". Within the framework of continuous assessment, different systems and procedures are used to evaluate knowledge, skills, or competences.

Curricular adaptation during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic it was necessary to adapt the practical contents to virtual contents. 35% of the course (12 weeks) was adapted to a 100% online environment. Several activities were carried out that could be evaluated in real time, including lectures, clinical cases, and resolution of multidisciplinary dental treatments.

Development of clinical practices in health education in other institutions during the pandemic a narrative review was conducted to identify how this situation has been addressed in other institutions and countries; finding that similarly, it has been possible to establish monitoring of clinical practices in a virtual environment. An on-line questionnaire was conducted to 4th and 5th year students of DDS degree to stablish the acceptance of the adaptation during the pandemic. Despite the limitations of online training for the development of clinical practice, a system has been established to ensure appropriate clinical training for undergraduate students in dentistry. Some of the developments were well accepted by the students.