DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2017.v04i05.002

Pages: 216-219

Advances in information and communication technology (ICT) have changed the life of everybody. Use of computer and internet have become a part of the university student's daily activity. The computer use may have been increasing among dental students. The present study aims to investigate the changing trends of the perceived knowledge regarding usage of computer in Sri Lankan dental students in past ten years. This study included two cross sectional paper based surveys conducted in the year 2006 and again in year 2015 among the undergraduate dental students representing all four academic batches in the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya. Among the study participants 95 (55%) were males and 76(45%) were females in year 2006 whereas 119 (34%) males and 229 (66%) females in year 2015. Forty seven present students have reported having their own computer in year 2006 and it has increased up to 92% in the year 2015. In the year 2006 the type of device they have used for accessing internet was confined to laptops (2%) and desktop computers (7%) where as in the year 2015 smart phones (24%) and tablet computer (13%) have been included. Among dental students 67% of them reported that they have adequate knowledge of computer use before entering the university. This study reflects that the perceived use and knowledge of undergraduate dental students about internet and computer based learning have increased with the time. It is suggested that computer application for dental education is encouraged.