Medical Students' Perceptions of Peer‐Developed Video‐Based Training on Periodontal Health and Its Relationship With Systemic Diseases

INTRODUCTION: Periodontal health is an essential aspect of systemic health, with strong evidence linking it to diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory conditions. Despite these well-documented connections, oral health remains underrepresented in medical education due to curriculum constraints. This study aimed to explore medical students' perceptions and self-reported learning outcomes regarding peer-developed video-based training on periodontal health and its relationship with systemic diseases, thereby highlighting the potential benefits of integrating periodontal health education into medical curricula. METHODS: To address this educational gap, an educational video covering periodontal tissues, periodontal health, and their relationship with systemic diseases was prepared by a fifth-year dental student. This video was presented to 169 third-year medical students as part of a public health course. Subsequently, a structured survey was administered to assess students' perceptions, perceived effectiveness of the training and self-reported learning outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 169 medical students (mean age: 21.3 years) participated in the study. Most students (84%) reported that they were able to distinguish healthy from diseased gums, and 93% reported applying the oral care practices shown in the video. While 88% reported recognizing the necessity of dental visits in the case of periodontal diseases, 91% felt confident identifying such conditions. Regarding the technical evaluation, over 90% of students expressed satisfaction with the video's duration, content distribution and clarity of demonstrations. Furthermore, 93% reported gaining new information through the training. Open-ended responses emphasized the value of visual-based learning and suggested enhancements such as shorter modules and gamified tools. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that peer-developed video-based training materials appear to be a promising educational strategy for supporting medical students' awareness and perceived understanding of periodontal health and may contribute to the integration of such approaches into medical curricula.