The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Romanian Postgraduate Periodontal Residency Teaching: Past Experience, Present Imperatives and Future Considerations in a Multicentric Evaluation

The aims of this study were to identify the challenges in periodontology postgraduate residency programs during the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying the modifications of educational instruments, to evaluate the impact of hybrid education on periodontology postgraduate programs in terms of resident-centred outcomes, and to evaluate the education efficiency of an innovative teaching approach. Resident doctors from three Romanian dental faculties were included in study groups based on the intensity of clinical training. A web-based questionnaire was used to collect information on residents' perception about teaching activity. Important educational changes were identified. Moreover, residents learned a periodontal procedure through online training and then performed it on preclinical models three times. The working times were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed. Resident doctors were unsatisfied with clinical practice during the pandemic year, but they positively valued the development of online courses. Learning efficiency improved by repeating the same procedure on preclinical models, as proved by the significant decrease of the working times. E-learning was appreciated as an important component of the new hybrid teaching approach. Reorganization and further emphasis on both preclinical and medical practice, targeted to aid residents perform more accurate and efficient procedures, are recommended.