THE PERSPECTIVE OF FIRST YEAR DENTAL STUDENTS TO CASE-BASED LEARNING AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN LEARNING PHYSIOLOGY: A CASE STUDY.

  • Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • PhD, University of Malaya.
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Background: Understanding and recall of human physiology is much easier when it is linked to the real life patient cases. Case-based learning (CBL) is a teaching method where the students are motivated towards self-directed learning and to develop analytic and problem-solving skills. Aim: The present study aimed to measure dental students’ perceptions of introducing small group case-based learning in teaching cardiorespiratory physiology. Methodology: Data were collected from semester one dental students at MAHSA University, Malaysia. Cardiorespiratory case-based questions were given to the students after finishing their didactic lectures of cardiovascular and respiratory physiology. 74 students were divided into 9 groups to learn and discuss the case. At the end of the session, a 23 items perception scale was given to the students to measure their acceptance of CBL, impact of CBL on personal skills and impact of CBL on professionalism. Results: The results showed that the students enjoyed CBL and reported that CBL improved their personal skills and professionalism. There was a positive correlation between CBL acceptance and impact of CBL on personal skills as well as professionalism. The study showed a significant difference in between the small groups in their acceptance of CBL and their opinions on the impact of CBL on the professionalism with insignificant difference in their opinions about the impact of CBL on their personal skills. In conclusion: CBL helped in understanding and integrating cardiovascular and respiratory physiology, improved the student’s personal skills and professionalism.

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[Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla and Mahmoud Said Mohdy. (2017); THE PERSPECTIVE OF FIRST YEAR DENTAL STUDENTS TO CASE-BASED LEARNING AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN LEARNING PHYSIOLOGY: A CASE STUDY. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (Mar). 1514-1521] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

Dr Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla
Physiology department, Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Kula Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/3660      
DOI URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/3660

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