A PROBLEM-BASED PRECLINICAL COURSE FOR DENTAL STUDENTS

In September 1994 the Turner Dental School, University of Manchester, introduced a new curriculum in which the first 2 years were problem-or iented. The 82 dental students share the first year and part of the se cond with 252 medical students, making this the largest cohort of stud ents in a problem-based learning course in the world. It is one of two or three dental courses of its kind. In addition to the problem-orien ted work the course includes a substantial informatics component invol ving computer skills. The number of lectures has been reduced to a max imum of four per week in the first year and seven per week in the seco nd Most of the students' learning is achieved by group work in which t hey study clinical cases and search out the basic biological backgroun d to them At the same time the students consider the social and psycho logical implications of the cases and develop their own communication skills. Thus far the course has resulted in students having a much bro ader but less detailed subject knowledge. Students are able to integra te their knowledge more effectively, In the new kinds of examination d eveloped for the course the dental students achieve marks around 5% lo wer than their medical colleagues, as in more traditional combined cou rses. The first year of the course was designed for medical students a nd may not therefore be optimal for dental students but the second yea r has more specifically dental components.