Changes in the perception of dental education environment in 2020, 2022, and 2024 among students at the national university of Laos

Kang, Eunhee; Kim, Mi-El; Kim, Jo-Eun; Kwon, Ho-Beom; Ihm, Jungjoon

doi:2025.63.5.162

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 63(5); 2025 > Article

Original Article

Journal of Korean Dental Association 2025;63(5):162-170.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22974/jkda.2025.63.5.001 Published online May 31, 2025.

라오스 국립치과대학 학생들의 2020, 2022, 2024년 교육환경에 대한 인식 변화

Changes in the perception of dental education environment in 2020, 2022, and 2024 among students at the national university of Laos

Eunhee Kang¹

¹Department of Dental Education, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Oral Anatomy, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
³Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
⁴Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: Jungjoon Ihm, Tel: +82-880-2343,
Email: ijj127@snu.ac.kr

Received: 4 March 2025 • Revised: 4 April 2025 • Accepted: 17 April 2025

Abstract

Purpose
In pursuit of international cooperation, this study aims to investigate changes in the educational environment at Laos dental college during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods
The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) was administered to students at Laos dental college in 2020, 2022, and 2024 to assess their perceptions of the educational environment. A total of 213, 314, and 133 students participated in the surveys for each respective year. The data allowed us to compare students’ perceptions across years and among different groups.
Results
Overall, the DREEM scores were lowest in 2022 but increased again in 2024. When comparing results by academic year, first- and second-year students exhibited an increase in 2022, whereas third- and fourth-year as well as fifth- and sixth-year students recorded their lowest scores in that year.
Conclusion
This study highlights the need to diversify clinical education approaches in response not only to the pandemic but also to evolving changes in the healthcare environment.

Key Words: International Cooperation; COVID-19; Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure; Education, Dental