Department of Public Health Dentistry JKKN Dental College and Hospital, Kumarapalayam
One of the most difficult professional programs is dental school, which calls for a balance between preclinical skill development, academic learning, and mental wellness. The first and second years are crucial transitional times when students deal with everyday psychological and intellectual difficulties. The purpose of this questionnaire-based study was to determine and examine these everyday challenges faced by undergraduate dental students. 115 dental students were given a structured survey consisting of fourteen items. Descriptive statistics, such as mean scores and frequency percentages, were used to analyze the data. The findings indicated that the most commonly cited problems were Time management & Balancing work, assignments and internal exams, and academic burden. In order to enhance the general wellbeing of dentistry students, this study emphasizes the critical need for academic changes, time management education, and counseling help.
Preclinical, theoretical, and practical learning are all incorporated into dental education. Students are exposed to preclinical topics including dental materials and tooth carving in their first and second years, as well as basic sciences like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. Stress and burnout are frequently caused by the demanding curriculum, pressure to perform well on tests, and adjusting to a new setting. Due to their constant workload and competitive evaluation processes, dentistry students have been found to have higher levels of stress than many other health sciences students. It is essential to comprehend these pressures throughout the foundational years in order to create more effective teaching and support systems.
Goal
To evaluate first- and second-year dentistry students' daily intellectual, psychological, and physical challenges. to assess stress levels and how they relate to academic achievement. to suggest methods for enhancing academic support and student well-being.
Resources and Procedures
Research Design
Undergraduate dental students participated in a cross-sectional descriptive study.
Research Participants
Using random sampling, 115 participants—15 first-year, 100 second year students.
Data Gathering Instrument A verified structured questionnaire was created. Among them were: Details on the demographics Academic difficulties Both physical and mental health Peer and institutional support was used for the majority of the questions.
Data analysis
Questions
How often do you face difficulty in preclinical/lab practicals?
How challenging is it to balance study time between theory and preclinical work? How stressful do you find assignments and internal exams?
How often do you feel unprepared before practical sessions?
How often do you feel stressed due to your studies?
How often do you experience sleep disturbances due to academic workload?
How confident are you in your ability to succeed in dental school?
How often do you feel anxious during exams or practical tests?
How do you usually cope with stress?
How difficult is it for you to maintain a healthy study-life balance?
How often do you face difficulties interacting with peers or managing social life due to study workload?
What is the biggest challenge you face in your daily dental student life?
RESULT
S. Gowtham Raj*, C. Selvakumar, T. Yoka, S. Gopikrishna, M. Hariharan, R. Kavyapriya, M. Kamali, G. Shruthi Priya, Daily Obstacles First- and Second-Year Dental Students Face During their College Years A Survey Using Questionnaires, Int. J. Sci. R. Tech., 2026, 3 (3), 25-28. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18879749
10.5281/zenodo.18879749
