Perception of Nigerian Dental Students on the Effectiveness of Teaching Platforms Used for Orthodontics Lectures During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Objective: This research was to assess how Nigerian dental students perceived the effectiveness of the teaching platforms adopted by Orthodontic lecturers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive survey which involved 10 accredited Nigerian dental schools with clinical students during COVID-19 pandemic across the geo-political zones of Nigeria was carried out. One hundred and forty-five clinical students who had been taught Orthodontics before COVID-19 pandemic were surveyed using a three-Section Google forms semi-structured questionnaire, administered through WhatsApp and emails. Section A comprised socio-demographic variables, B centred on information on teaching platforms adopted for Orthodontics before and during COVID-19 pandemic), and C was about the perceived effectiveness of adopted teaching platform during COVID-19 pandemic. Data obtained were quantitative, analyzed using SPSS version 26. Hypothesis was tested using independent samples t-test at 0.05 significant level. Results: The participants included 83(57.2%) males and 62 (42.8%) females, with mean age of 25.738 +/- 2.94 years. One hundred and forty two (97.2%) affirmed to having more face-to-face teaching before COVID-19 pandemic. The most T popular online teaching platform adopted during COVID-19 pandemic was WhatsApp, 58 (40%). More than half of the participants, 99 (68.3%), had a positive perception towards the adopted teaching platforms. Most of them, 120 (82.7%), perceived the adopted platforms were effective in providing quality Orthodontic lectures, clinical skills and soft skills. More males 83 (57.2%) than females 62 (42.8%), perceived the platforms to be more effective with no statistical difference, while most, 120 (82.7%), accepted the adopted teaching platforms for orthodontics during COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Orthodontic learning occurred largely on-line during COVID-19 pandemic and the perception of the students was positive towards the effectiveness of the adopted teaching platform as most participants accepted the platforms.