Evaluating the clinical quality of departments as viewed by juniors and seniors of Shiraz dental school

INTRODUCTION: Assessment of students' perspective is an essential element in effective educational quality evaluation. By identifying strengths and weaknesses, it leads to improvement in future performance. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed through a questionnaire comprising 23 questions. Reliability was assessed using α-Chronbach (α =0.87), and validity was confirmed by a group of five experts. Tukey test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and two sample t-tests were used for data analysis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed through a questionnaire comprising 23 questions. Reliability was assessed using α-Chronbach (α =0.87), and validity was confirmed by a group of five experts. Tukey test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and two sample t-tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 168 answered questionnaires were entered in our study. Maximum satisfaction in most items was shown in removable prosthodontics and orthodontics departments whereas oral surgery and comprehensive treatment departments acquired the least scores. In all departments, personnels' respectful attitude had the highest score whereas minimum grade was given to stressful workload and overall satisfaction in each department. In comparison with a similar study, conducted 3 years ago, level of satisfaction was raised for orthodontics and removable prosthodontics departments though it was declined for the pediatrics department. CONCLUSION: The special cadre of clinical instructors comprising both experienced and young members is considered as an important factor leading to high student satisfaction in the orthodontics department. Promotion of a removable prosthodontics department is related to the high relevance between the implemented educational program and the curriculum. The moderate performance of oral surgery and restorative departments is indicative of the need for more attention from ministry authorities to major dental departments such as oral surgery, endodontic, restorative and periodontics, in order to increase the students' scientific capability in these fields.