Thesis
Factors associated with pre-doctoral students’ intention to use digital dental technology
University of Iowa
Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
Spring 2020
DOI: 10.17077/etd.005346
Abstract
Introduction: Teaching digital dentistry has become an inevitable need in preparing current dental students for future practice opportunities. However, literature about how to best motivate students to use it is limited.
Objectives: To investigate factors associated with pre-doctoral students’ intention to use dental technology in future practice.
Methods: A comprehensive survey was developed, and its content validity was evaluated by a panel of faculty members with 5+ years of experience in teaching digital dentistry. The survey consisted of 3 main domains: 1) knowledge, 2) perception and 3) suggestions. Perceptions included quality of training, attitude towards and social norms about using digital dentistry technology, and perceived control to and intention to use technology in future practice. After IRB approval (#201901745), D2, D3 and D4 classes completed the survey in 2019, after students had completed their digital dentistry didactic courses at the University of Iowa. D1 class was excluded because they have not finished their digital dentistry didactic courses. The survey data was tabulated for each class separately to compare trends among the classes. Each response was analyzed individually before creating scores for the various sub-domains.
Results: The response rate was 95% (n=232). Mean age of participants was 25.74 years (SD 2.722). There were significant differences between the classes in their knowledge (p < 0.0001), perceived quality of training (p < 0.0001), and all perceptions. Controlling for significant covariates, higher students’ intention to use dental technology was significantly associated with higher knowledge score (p=0.05), attitude (p<0.0001), social norms (p=-0.017), and perceived control on future use of technology (p<0.0001).
Conclusions: Students may be motivated to use digital technology when they, have good knowledge, feel that others are using it or endorsing its use, and perceive it is easy to use in practice.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Factors associated with pre-doctoral students’ intention to use digital dental technology
- Creators
- Moamen Sheba
- Contributors
- Leonardo Marchini (Advisor)Tarek Elkerdani (Committee Member)Sato Ashida (Committee Member)Erliang Zeng (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Oral Science
- Date degree season
- Spring 2020
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.005346
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- vii, 59 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2020 Moamen Sheba
- Language
- English
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 50-54).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
The use of technology, nowadays, is inevitable. Rapidly developing technologies are emerging in all industries including dentistry. Preparing current dental students for the future is an important objective of dental schools. Knowing what factors affect dental students’ intention to use recent innovations after they graduate is essential to enhance their educational experience.
The aim of this study was to use a behavioral science theory to identify what factors motivate students to use the technology in future practice from the students’ perspective.
In this study, a survey for dental students was developed asking about their knowledge, perception about current dental school training related to digital dentistry, general attitudes towards technology implementation, beliefs related to social norms and control over future practice and suggestions to improve their educational experience. The survey was reviewed and modified by faculty who has teaching experience in this topic to fit the aim of the study before distributing the survey to dental students to fill it out.
Very high participation rate was achieved, and the results of the study indicated important findings. Generally, dental students are motivated and have positive attitudes towards the use of technology which agrees with previous literature. However, their intention to use the recent technologies was higher among those with more knowledge about technology and those who feel that others are using it and it is easy to use in future practice.
- Academic Unit
- Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9983956196702771
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