Efectividad de una Estrategia Educativa para la Descripción de Lesiones de Patología Oral en Estudiantes de Odontología de la Universidad Santo Tomás

Abstract

Introduction: the recognition of oral pathology lesions is an essential competency in the training of dental students, as it guides clinical diagnosis and decision-making. However, during the educational process, difficulties are observed in the correct identification and description of these lesions, highlighting the importance of implementing educational strategies to strengthen learning in the field of oral pathology. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational strategy in the development of competencies for the identification and description of oral pathology lesions in fourth-semester dental students at Santo Tomás University, Bucaramanga, in 2025. Methodology: a quantitative study with a quasi-experimental design was conducted. A questionnaire was administered before and after the implementation of an educational strategy. The instrument included theoretical questions and recognition of clinical images related to different fundamental lesions of the oral cavity. Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were performed using frequencies and percentages. Chi² tests were applied to qualitative variables, and Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, and ANOVA tests were used for quantitative variables. The study was approved by the ethics committee. Results: the sample consisted of 95 participants: 20 in the control group and 75 in the experimental group (three groups). An increase in the number of correct responses was observed after the educational intervention (14.9 vs. 17.7; p < 0.001), mainly in questions related to the visual identification of lesions such as macules, papules, plaques, nodules, and ulcers. Conclusions: the educational strategy contributed to strengthening students’ knowledge in the recognition of oral cavity lesions, supporting the development of diagnostic skills relevant to clinical practice.