Research in Dental Education: A Study on its Curricular Presence Across Latin American and Caribbean Universities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/nntp2t35Keywords:
Curriculum; Dental education; Dental research; Latin America.Abstract
Research in dentistry plays a crucial role in the education and development of professionals while advancing scientific knowledge and continuously improving dental care. This study aimed to characterize research courses within dental programs at universities across Latin America and the Caribbean. A cross-sectional study analyzed 248 curricula from dental programs in the region in 2023. Of the 248 programs reviewed, 178 included a research course, with 16.85% (n=30) originating from Peru. South America had the highest representation, accounting for 74.72%, and 57.87% (n=103) of the research courses were from private institutions. Research courses are concentrated in South America, with Peru leading in the number and percentage of courses. At the institutional level, private universities had a more substantial presence of research courses compared to public institutions. Additionally, the association between the percentage of research courses and the Scimago ranking underscores the importance of research in enhancing academic prestige and driving institutional innovation.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Anna Paola Fernández-Coll, Daniel Kevin Pérez-Alvarez, María Claudia Garcés-Elías, Jorge A. Beltrán, Roberto A. León-Manco, Carlos Mendiola-Aquino.

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