W. Paul Lang
Trends in Students' Knowledge, Opinions, and Experience Regarding Dental Informatics and Computer Applications
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
study investigated knowledge opinions experience regarding dental informatics computers among firstyear dental students d1s fourthyear dental students d4sfirstyear n 95 fourthyear n 91 students 1990 firstyear n 97 fourthyear n 91 students 1993 school dentistry surveyeddemographic characteristics computer ownership assessed knowledge measured using 18item scale range 018 opinions measured using 13item scale range 1365 alpha 081 experience measured using 28item scale range 28140response rates nearly 100 computer ownership d1s increased 179 438 three years surveys knowledge opinions 1990 1993 d1s similar although latter reported experience hardware software experience dental informatics applications lacking groups 1993 d4s completed computer courses 1990 d4s 23 vs 09 demonstrated significantly knowledge experience opinion scores nearly identical groups d4s 1993 d1s 1990 increased knowledge experience informatics applications dental school difference computer knowledge entering d1 males females observed 1990 essentially gone 1993 individualsentering students computing knowledge skill predecessors informatics knowledge experience increased dental school knowledge disparities genders disappeared