Academic Satisfaction Using Haptic Virtual Reality Simulator for Dental Training.

BACKGROUND: Haptic virtual reality simulators are being increasingly adopted in dental education and training programs, which makes it necessary to demonstrate whether this tool provides adequate academic satisfaction among students. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate academic satisfaction using a haptic virtual simulator in dental students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven students from the Faculty of Stomatology at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) completed a pre-experimental questionnaire (to evaluate expectations) and a post-experimental one (to assess perceived performance) after a one-hour training session using a haptic virtual reality simulator. The satisfaction level of each participant was obtained using Kotler's formula, which considers the results of both questionnaires. RESULTS: The students agreed with their expectations regarding the pre-assessment of the virtual simulator. After evaluating their perceptions, the educational benefits of using the haptic simulator were evident, but concerns also emerged about perceived technical limitations. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the Simodont haptic virtual simulator presented a satisfactory level of academic satisfaction among undergraduate and postgraduate students at the UPCH Faculty of Stomatology.