Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Only studies meeting at least seven of the nine validity criteria were included.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies that compared CAL programmes of dental education with any other method of teaching (tutor-aided or self-instruction) were eligible for inclusion. The included studies used CAL programmes in a variety of dental disciplines: endodontics, orthodontics, oral anatomy, restorative dentistry, geriatric dentistry and prosthodontics. The control interventions in the included studies were standard lectures, lecture groups, seminars, slides, literature- or text-based group, tutorial instruction, self-teaching booklet and latent-image simulation, and no intervention.
Participants included in the review
Studies of academically homogeneous undergraduate dental students, graduate dental students, dentists and faculty at dental schools were eligible for inclusion.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Studies were eligible if they objectively measured: post-test scores on multiple choice, written or oral tests; performance on a clinical procedure or clinical interview; or the time spent on CAL programmes learning the contents, and assessed the participant's attitudes toward CAL using a questionnaire.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
One reviewer excluded clearly irrelevant articles. Two reviewers then independently selected studies for inclusion and resolved any disagreements by discussion. Initial agreement on inclusion was good (mean kappa 0.86).