O ensino de endodontia em uma instituição pública: percepção dos estudantes

Abstract

The students perceptions about their learning experiences are an important component to monitor the quality of academic programs. At Dentistry, the Endodontic discipline is considered difficult by many students. The use of new technologies at undergraduate, like nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments, will be able to become more easy the work and learning of students, and contribute at resolution of necessity for endodontic treatments at public service. This study evaluated the students perceptions of Endodontic disciplines, at Federal University of Minas Gerais, that employed stainless-steel (SS) hand instruments and NiTi rotary instruments to perform endodontic treatments, and their learning experiences. The students enrolled at Endodontic disciplines, of second semester of 2009, were divided at 3 groups (G): G1; students of 5º semester that experienced treatments of straight canals with SS hand instruments; G2: students of 6º semester that experienced treatments of curved canals with SS hand instruments, and G3: students of 8º semester that experienced treatment of straight and curved canals with NiTi rotary instruments. A total of 126 questionnaires were distributed to dental students at the final of semester of 2009. The data obtained were categorized in accordance with the income during the semester, time spent and quality of the treatment executed, difficulties, technique employed, and suggestions to improve the discipline. The return rate was 115 (91.3%), being 33% of students of male gender and 67% of female. The Kruskal Wallis test showed no difference at income (p=0.528), and characteristics of technique employed (p=0.560), between the three groups. Students of G3 performed a great number of endodontic treatments (p=0.009), and with lesser time (p<0.001), compared with G1 and G2. The difficulties were related by the majority of G2 and G3, differently of G1 (p=0.048). The quality related of endodontic treatments performed was different only between G1 and G2 (p=0.045). The principal points that can be affect the Endodontic teaching based at perceptions of undergraduate students were: patients lacks and delays, selection of patients, pre-clinical and clinical training, difficulties founded, type of technique employed, and teachers orientation. The NiTi rotary instrument showed more efficiency and resolutivity than hand SS instrument to perform endodontic treatments, and it can reflect an important impact at a public dental service. The students perceptions brought valuable information about the development of the discipline and relationship between teachers and students, with intention to contribute to enhance the endodontic teaching.