Dental Students' Viewpoints on traditional medicine course after presenting for the first time in Iran

Background: The traditional medicine constitutes an integral part of the culture of the Iranians. After Birjand dental school presented traditional medicine course for dental students for the first time in Iran, this study aimed to evaluate dental students' viewpoints about traditional medicine course. Methods: After approving optional traditional medicine course for dental students in the relevant councils of Birjand University of medical sciences, Birjand dentistry students' viewpoints were evaluated in two separate semesters through open ended questionnaires which their validity and reliability were confirmed. The questionnaires were designed on a five-point Likert scale. The mean of scores for each question and the mean of student scores on all 16 questions were calculated and by comparing with median, positive or negative viewpoints were evaluated. Results: In the first and second runs of course, only two questions (teachers' mastery on the content, student satisfaction from final and exam) scored above the median. In the first run of the course and totally,” student's willingness to repass course” acquired the least score. All of mean students’ score for sum of 16 questions were below than 3 in two runs of course. Students were generally dissatisfied with the inappropriate timing of classes, the high amounts of content, the impracticality of the subjects, and the lack of relevance to the field of dentistry. Conclusion: All of dentistry students had negative viewpoint to traditional medicine course in this form. It is recommended that ii is provided to dental students in a more practical way and as workshops.