Introduction: In order to reach the solutions decreasing the gap between theoretical education and practical training, the present study assessed the dental students’ viewpoints of Kermanshah dental school about the factors affecting the gap in 2017.
Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, the viewpoints of 150 students at third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades of Kermanshah dental school were evaluated by census method. Demographic questions included gender, academic year, academic grade, and clinical experience, and the main questions were related to the effective factors on the gap between theoretical education and practical training in three dimensions: instructor, student and educational planning.
Results: 52% of students were male. The highest frequency was for academic grade 14 to 17 whit 77.3%.74% of students had a clinical experience. Students participating in this study rated to the instructor factors with a score of 21.07 ± 4.482.Also, Student's score was 13.23 ± 1.875, and educational planning's score was 35.02 ± 5.729. The evaluation of the effect of demographic variables on this Viewpoint, showed a statistically significant difference only in the academic year at the instructor factors (P = 0.002) and educational planning factors (P = 0.027).
Conclusions: In total, according to the students' views about factors affecting on the gap between theoretical education and practical training, adopting appropriate strategies, in three dimensions student, educational planning, and instructor in order to eliminate or reduce the gap between theoretical education and practical training in dentistry seems necessary.