Date of Award

5-29-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Health Professions Education

First Advisor

Dr. Syeda Kausar Ali

Second Advisor

Dr. Shaista Afzal

Third Advisor

Dr. Muhammad Shahid Shamim

Department

Educational Development

Abstract

Background: Dental education integrates fundamental medical subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, internal medicine and general surgery to provide holistic patient care. With the dynamic nature of dental education and growing number of dental institutes in Pakistan, valid reservations are raised regarding the dental curricula being offered to dental students and whether they meet their specific clinical and practical needs.
Objective: This study examines the perspectives of dental students, house officers, and general surgery faculty members on the relevance and effectiveness of general surgery in undergraduate dental curricula. It further identifies key challenges and their impact on dental students and house officers, and evaluates how these factors influence their engagement in surgical clerkships, academic performance, and overall clinical preparedness.
Methods: A qualitative research approach was employed, utilizing in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to gather insights from participants. The collected qualitative data underwent rigorous thematic analysis to ensure reliability and depth in findings. A blended analytical approach was adopted, combining deductive analysis-where predefined themes guided coding-and inductive analysis, allowing emerging themes to shape the findings.
Results: The study findings indicate a broad spectrum of perspectives While some participants argue for a more focused approach tailored to dental-specific surgical skills, there are others who acknowledge its significance in dental training, particularly for emergency care and maxillofacial procedures. Key challenges identified in our study include curriculum overload, limited hands-on training, and perceived misalignment of dental curriculum with clinical dental practice. Another area identified in the study was weak faculty mentorship, resulting in poor student engagement and clinical preparedness. Faculty emphasized the need for more interactive learning methods, while students advocated for early clinical exposure and structured surgical clerkships.
Conclusion: The findings reveal that there is a strong need for curriculum reform that streamlines general surgery course content, improves interactive learning, increases practical training opportunities, and introduces competency-based assessments. By addressing these gaps, dental education can ensure graduates are well-prepared for real-world clinical challenges, ultimately enhancing patient care outcomes.

First Page

1

Last Page

73

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