Nigerian Dental Students’ Assessment of their Clinical Learning

Abstract

Clinical learning in medical and dental education provides students with knowledge, skills and proper etiquette for their 
professional life. Students’ assessment of clinical education is therefore important to help to promote excellence in medical and 
dental education in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was carried out. Section A of the 
questionnaire assessed clinical learning opportunities and environment, level of patient care experience and opportunity to 
work in different health care settings. Section B elicited students’ perceived strengths and weaknesses observed in their clinical 
learning process. Strength of association was tested using chi-square tests with level of significance set at P <0.05. The hand 
written responses in section B were thematically analysed using the Taylor et al. (1998) protocol. It was observed that 
participants reported having good clinical learning opportunities especially as pertained to patients’ care. However, the students 
expressed dissatisfaction with the level of organization in the clinic environment, unsupportive staff and unavailability of 
facilitating resources. Factors like early exposure to procedures and patient interactions, adequate and knowledgeable faculty 
members, as well as the comprehensive nature of the curriculum were identified as strengths of clinical learning. Lack of 
opportunities for feedback to instructors and administrators, asynchrony of lectures with clinical rotations and the stress of 
fulfilling procedural requirements were identified as weaknesses of clinical learning. Nigerian dental schools need to improve 
on the clinical learning environment through provision of resources that facilitate learning and ensure that faculty staffs are 
more supportive.