Abstract
Introduction: The clinical phase is a fundamental part of dental students' education. Understanding students' experiences and their perspectives on clinical education can enhance the quality of teaching. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the experiences of dental students in Yazd regarding clinical educational content in different departments of the dental school.
Materials & Methods: In this qualitative study using content analysis, 10 final-year dental students in Yazd in 2023 were purposefully selected. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. In the first step, semantic units were identified and coded, categories and subcategories were created, and by combining categories, the main themes were extracted. Data analysis was performed by content analysis method.
Results: By analyzing the content of the data, three main themes were extracted: 1) community-based learning, 2) teaching theoretical courses as a prerequisite for practical sections, and 3) interdisciplinary competencies.
Conclusion: The results provide a deep understanding of the clinical experiences of dental students in Yazd regarding clinical education. Awareness of the factors affecting students' clinical learning process and its consequences can facilitate teaching, improve the learning of clinical skills, and reduce or control barriers to effective teaching.
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