Sains Malaysiana 50(7)(2021): 2123-2134

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5007-25

Resuming Clinical Teaching in the Era of COVID-19: Experiences and Protocols from a Dental School in Malaysia

(Menyambung Semula Pengajaran Klinikal di Era COVID-19: Pengalaman dan Protokol daripada Institusi Pergigian di Malaysia)

MOHD ZAMRI HUSSIN¹, MOHIDEEN SALIHU FAROOK¹, NOR AZLIDA MOHD NOR², FIRDAUS HARIRI³, KATHREENA KADIR³, NOR NADIA ZAKARIA⁴, MUHAMMAD KAMIL HASSAN³ & WAN NURAZREENA WAN HASSAN⁴* 

¹Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

²Department of Community Oral Health & Clinical Prevention, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

³Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Clinical Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

⁴Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

Received: 5 February 2021/Accepted: 17 May 2021

ABSTRACT

The rapid spread of the global pandemic COVID-19 had challenged the Malaysian Healthcare and Education Systems. Teaching and learning at dental schools across the country were drastically changed to online approach as the nation enforced Movement Control Order (MCO). However, translation of psychomotor skills still require hands-on approach to produce competent dentists upon graduation, but most dental schools were not prepared for the prevention of COVID-19 transmission that require more strict cross infection protocol. The aim of this paper was to describe the response by a dental school in Malaysia to COVID-19 in modifying the clinical teaching and learning, infrastructure, facilities, and clinical services, and enhancing the infection control protocol through risk assessment of COVID-19 transmission and prevention strategies. The paper also discusses the limitations of our approach, challenges in providing clinical services and supervision as well as implications of changes to our practice. In conclusion, COVID-19 has modified the delivery and implementation of clinical teaching and learning in Malaysia. However, within the limited fund and resources, dental teaching institutions need to adapt to the new normal clinical environment in order to ensure that dentals students graduate on time with sufficient clinical training.

Keywords: COVID-19; Dental Teaching Institutions; new norm; teaching and learning

ABSTRAK

Penularan wabak COVID-19 secara global telah menggugat sistem kesihatan dan pendidikan di Malaysia. Pengajaran dan pembelajaran di semua institusi pergigian di seluruh negara diubah secara mendadak dengan pendekatan dalam talian setelah penguatkuasaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP). Walau bagaimanapun, latihan kemahiran psikomotor masih memerlukan pendekatan langsung untuk melahirkan pengamal pergigian yang kompeten setelah tamat pengajian tetapi kebanyakan institusi pendidikan pergigian tidak mempunyai kesediaan untuk menghadapi pencegahan transmisi COVID-19 yang memerlukan protokol kawalan jangkitan silang yang lebih ketat. Tujuan kertas ini adalah untuk membincangkan respons institusi pengajaran pergigian terhadap pandemik COVID-19 dalam pengubahsuaian pengajaran dan pembelajaran klinikal, infrastruktur, kemudahan dan perkhidmatan klinikal, serta protokol kawalan jangkitan silang melalui strategi penilaian risiko untuk mencegah penularan wabak COVID-19. Kertas ini juga membincangkan limitasi, cabaran dalam perkhidmatan dan penyeliaan klinikal serta implikasi pengubahsuaian yang telah dilakukan terhadap amalan pergigian. Kesimpulannya, COVID-19 telah mencetus pengubahsuaian cara penyampaian dan pelaksanaan pengajaran dan pembelajaran klinikal untuk program pergigian di Malaysia. Namun begitu, dengan bekalan dana dan sumber tenaga yang terhad, institusi pendidikan pergigian perlu mengadaptasi dengan persekitaran klinikal normal baru untuk memastikan para pelajar lulus pengajian dalam tempoh yang ditetapkan dengan latihan klinikal yang mencukupi.

Kata kunci: COVID-19; Institusi Pendidikan Pergigian; norma baharu; pengajaran dan pembelajaran

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*Corresponding author; email: wannurazreena@um.edu.my