ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease-19 dramatically changed the learning conditions of dental students, with restricted access to training sessions and clinical practice. The "Playdent" project proposed the integration of serious games (SGs) in the third-year curriculum, based on tailor-made scenarios questioning the first dental visit of edentulous patients, and examined whether training with the games would advance students' learning outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Test scores of 89 students, allocated either to a "test" group that accessed SGs during a 4-week test period in addition to conventional lectures or to a "control" group that benefited solely from conventional lectures, were measured before and immediately after the test period. The subsequent satisfaction of students was assessed in the "test" group. RESULTS: Scores obtained after the 4-week period significantly increased within the "test" group (11.1% ± 24.9%, p = 0.04, degree of freedom [df] = 30) while they did not change within the "control" group (p = 0.21, df = 57). Qualitative feedback expressed by students who played SGs during the 4-week period demonstrated that 71% of them rated the SGs as satisfactory and 91% of them judged the consistency of SGs content with lectures to be satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Game-based learning showed a positive impact on the learning outcomes of third-year students. Qualitative assessments provide insights into the pertinence of SGs offered in addition to traditional lectures of third-year complete denture courses. SGs may consolidate skills in oral rehabilitation acquired through traditional passive learning formats proposed in preclinical courses.
ABSTRACT
Background A previous study reported the effectiveness and patient satisfaction in the dental emergency unit (DEU) of the Pitie Salpetrière Hospital in Paris before coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The same methodology was used during the COVID-19 pandemic to compare pain, anxiety, and patient satisfaction during the two periods. Methods This prospective study was conducted in 2020 (NCT04354272) on adult patients. Data were collected on day zero (D0) on site and then by phone during the daytime on day one (D1), day three (D3), and day seven (D7). The primary objective was to assess the pain intensity at D1. Secondary objectives were to assess pain intensity at D3 and D7, anxiety intensity at D1, D3, and D7, and patient satisfaction. Patients were evaluated on a 0-10 numeric scale on D1, D3, and D7;mean scores were compared with non-parametric statistics (ANOVA, Dunn’s). Results A total of 445 patients were given the opportunity to participate in the study, and 370 patients consented. Seventy-one were lost during follow-up. Ultimately, 299 patients completed all the questionnaires and were included in the analysis. In the final sample (60% men, 40% women, aged 39 ± 14 years), 94% had health insurance. The mean pain scores were: D0, 6.1 ± 0.14;D1, 3.29 ± 0.16;D3, 2.08 ± 0.16;and D7, 1.07 ± 0.35. This indicates a significant decrease of 46%, 67%, and 82% at D1, D3, and D7, respectively, when compared to D0 (P < 0.0001). The mean anxiety scores were D0, 4.7 ± 0.19;D1, 2.6 ± 0.16;D3, 1.9 ± 0.61;and D7, 1.4 ± 0.15. This decrease was significant between D0 and D7 (ANOVA, P < 0.001). Perception of general health improved between D1 and D7. The overall satisfaction was 9.3 ± 0.06. Conclusion DEU enabled a significant reduction in pain and anxiety with high overall satisfaction during COVID-19, which was very similar to levels observed pre-COVID-19 pandemic.