UTILIZING WHATSAPP APPLICATION TO VERIFY WIRE BENDING EXERCISES DONE BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS - A PROSPECTIVE SURVEY Original Research

Abstract

Background: E-learning platform can be utilized to improve pre-clinical practical skills. Millions undergraduates are active users of WhatsApp platform and this can be used for learning and evaluation.

Objectives: The study's goals and include using WhatsApp to reinforce pre-clinical wire bending exercises among undergraduate dental students and assessing the effectiveness and acceptability of this platform among them.

Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted over a nine-month period and included 79 final-year BDS students from Mansarovar Dental College in Bhopal. The research was divided into three three-month sessions. An examination of similar questions of 10 MCQ and 10 Likert questions was conducted at the beginning and end of each session. A WhatsApp group called "Let's Learn Wire Bending" was formed, and digital images of wire bending exercises with step-by-step instructions and clinical benefits were posted. WhatsApp discussions about each appliance were held for three months, and at the end of the third month, an offline examination was held using the first question paper set, and student progress was evaluated.

Statistical analysis: Shapiro-Wilk’s test was applied for evaluating normality of samples distribution, and in non-parametric data obtained from the Likert’s score was converted into mid-point data analysis, and comparison between groups. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to assess acceptability.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference between before-session test results and after-session test results with a p-value less than 0.001. Likert feedback questionnaire revealed that students enjoyed this method of teaching.

Conclusions: The present study concluded that teaching pre-clinical wire bending exercises through WhatsApp application reinforces the traditional method of pre-clinical demonstration.