Effect of discussion seminars on the attitudes of dental students to clinical periodontal problems

The effect of discussion seminars on the attitudes toward clinical problems within four affective domains in periodontics was studied in undergraduate dental students. Specially prepared case presentations which highlighted clinical problems were used in the seminars as well as for the evaluation. The tests were based upon the assumption that the viewpoints of the periodontal teachers are the correct ones and can be used to identify the affective objectives. The results of the present study indicate that the students' attitudes changed and became similar to the viewpoints of the faculty as an effect of the discussion seminars. This observation speaks in favor of the use of such seminars for effective teaching as a supplement to didactic teaching and clinical instruction.