COVID-19 and Gender Effects on Dental Students' Preclinical Performance

Introduction/Objective Gender differences in academic performance exhibit global variations, with females often outperforming males at school levels, though university results are mixed. In dentistry, these trends are shaped by cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains, alongside cultural and environmental factors. The COVID-19 pandemic's shift to online learning necessitates exploring the role of gender in dental academic achievements. This cross-sectional observational study examines the impact of gender differences on the academic performance of second-year dental students in preclinical restorative courses over five academic years before and during the pandemic. Methods Scores of 415 second-year dental students were analyzed and compared across four specific preclinical restorative courses: fixed prosthodontics, removable prosthodontics, operative dentistry, and endodontics, spanning from 2016-2017 to 2020-2021 academic years. Results The analysis revealed significant differences in the mean overall scores across all courses. Students achieved higher overall grades during the pandemic than before it, yet no clear association was found linking gender with the pandemic's effect on academic performance. Conclusion These insights reveal the complex dynamics of academic performance considering gender and the changing educational setting in the wake of the pandemic.