Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dental Education: Experience Sharing from a Malaysian Public University

Faizah  Abdul Fatah; Nor Azura  Ahmad Tarmidzi; Nor Haliza  Mat-Baharin; Diana Md Zahid; Rohazila Mohamad Hanafiah; Nusima  Mohamed; Wan Nor Syariza Wan Ali; Zurairah  Ibrahim

doi:10.33102/uij.vol33no1.297

Authors

Faizah Abdul Fatah Department of Conservative Dentistry and Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
Nor Azura Ahmad Tarmidzi Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pathology and Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
Nor Haliza Mat-Baharin Department of Periodontology and Community Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
Diana Md Zahid Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
Rohazila Mohamad Hanafiah Department of Basic Sciences and Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
Nusima Mohamed Department of Conservative Dentistry and Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
Wan Nor Syariza Wan Ali Department of Conservative Dentistry and Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
Zurairah Ibrahim Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33102/uij.vol33no1.297

Keywords:

COVID-19, pandemic, dental education, online learning, dentistry

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infectious disease that causes global outbreaks. The COVID-19 outbreak has forced various sectors to change their approach and daily practice to new alternatives. Dental education is no exception to the effects of this pandemic, which has severely disrupted teaching, learning and clinical activities. The impact of this pandemic on dental education can be classified into different aspects, including academic, practical, research and clinical services. Teaching and learning activities have been transformed into distance learning methods. However, dental educators are still struggling with psychomotor components, including practical and clinical sessions, which are the main course components that are severely affected. This sharing of experience focuses on the effects of the pandemic on the delivery of dental education and the actions taken by the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) to ensure continuous learning. The challenges faced by the faculty are overcome with careful planning and discussion through the establishment of specific committees related to various issues, such as online learning and clinical COVID-19 committees. The committees identify any issues, plan the strategies and monitor the implementation of the plan. All actions during the pandemic are closely monitored by managing the faculty and university to ensure implementation of organised and smooth work, good record keeping, and compliance with instructions and guidelines by the authority.

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