Education Perception, Experience, and Anxiety Level Among Undergraduate Dental Students in Malaysia During the Covid 19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT

@#Introduction: This study aims to explore the dental students’ educational experience, the protocol consideration after school reopening and their physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, to evaluate the anxiety level of dental students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A cross-sectional survey was distributed with a hyperlink, reported as frequencies and percentages. A univariate analysis was used to explore the significant associations between demographic variables and anxiety levels. The risk factor was also identified using regression analysis. A two-tailed p<0.25 was considered significant. Results: A total of 333 respondents participated in the survey. Half of the respondents (42.3%) were comfortable with distance learning but worried about passing their examination and completing their clinical requirements. The transitioning to the online course by the lecturer was documented as effective. Despite missing academic sessions, only 15.3% were willing to replace the loss of educational experience. The majority of students (85.9%) believed that masks should be worn in school, but varied perceptions on wearing gloves and frequent COVID-19 testing. For physical health, mostly concerned about contracting the virus after the school reopens. For their anxiety level, nearly half have mild (n=99), moderate (n=55), and severe (n=36) levels. The factors were mainly associated with gender, household income, type of university, and respondent’s accommodation. Conclusion: As positive feedback was recorded towards online learning, constant improvement is needed to ensure the possibility of hybrid learning, even after the pandemic. The physical and psychological health of dental students should be a priority, to ensure a smooth transition during these unprecedented circumstances.