Problem-based Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Learning: a Systematic Review of evidence
Statement of problem: Problem-based learning (PBL) is widely accepted and has been recently introduced into oral surgery as a novel educational method based on clinical scenarios. However, very few studies have assessed its effectiveness in dentistry and especially in oral and maxillofacial surgery learning. The present study then aimed to systematically collecting and assessing the available evidence on the implementation of PBL in oral surgery curricula.
Materials and methods: The PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome) framework was used to guide the inclusion or exclusion of studies in the present review. Both electronic (Pubmed, CINHAL, ProQuest, Web of Knowledge) and manual search were performed by two reviewers separately. Included were the articles on the implementation of PBL in OMS curricula as part or whole; excluded were theses reports, conference proceedings, unpublished studies, etc. For the improvement and standardization of report quality, PRISMA Statement was applied.
Results: In included studies, various assessment tools such as self assessment questioners and tutor evaluations have been utilized. Also, different PBL modalities ranged from the introduction of hybrid to the pure format with different study designs of controlled and series reports were found. Using Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) most of included studies rated as being of weak quality. The level of evidence was III/IV.
Conclusion: Although The small number of included studies, the low level of evidence and weak quality of most of the studies reveal that utilizing PBL in area of oral surgery is still in its infancy stage, it appears to be promising and more studies are warranted to compare the PBL pedagogy with the traditional curriculum.
References
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Zhang Y, Chen G, Fang X, Cao X, Yang C, Cai XY. Problem-based learning in oral and maxillofacial surgery education: the Shanghai hybrid. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2012 Jan;70(1):e7-e11. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2011.03.038. Epub 2011 Jul 23. PubMed PMID: 21783301.