The Quality of Dental Education Research Methods: An Analysis of Articles Published in Two Journals

Purpose: The proliferation of research in dental education has been noticed recently; therefore, it is essential to appraise the research methodology of published articles in dental education journals. The Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI) was developed in 2007 and has been used frequently to assess the methodological quality of medical education studies. Unfortunately, none of the methodological quality of dental education studies has ever been appraised using this rubric thus far. The present study aimed to assess the methodological quality using MERSQI scores of articles published in JDE and EJDE. Methods: A cross-sectional assessment of the quality of manuscripts published in the JDE and EJDE in 2012, 2017, and 2022 was conducted. MERSQI data were extracted by two independent and calibrated examiners. Besides MERSQI scores, the numbers of authors, first and corresponding author’s degrees, geographic origins, and funding information were also extracted for each included study. Results: Four hundred ninety-five articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using MERSQI score. The most common study design of the JDE and EJDE was a single-group cross-sectional or single-group posttest and conducted in one institution for all studied years. In all journals and years, studies were assessed mainly by participants. The study outcome is mostly satisfaction, attitudes, perceptions, opinions, and general facts. The total mean MERSQI score for each journal and year varied. Year and geographic origin significantly affect the total MERSQI score. Papers originating from Asia have the highest score, followed by South America, Europe, North America, Oceania, and Africa. Conclusion: MERSQI score is applicable to the assessment of the methodological quality of dental educational research. In the ten years of study, based on descriptive data, both journals showed similar trends for all domains studied. The quality of manuscripts reviewed for both journals was modest. The MERSQI score for most of the domains was similar for both journals. Degrees of first and last authors and funding status were mostly similar over time for both journals. Most JDE and EJDE articles originated from North America and Europe, respectively. The MERSQI score was affected by publication years and geographic origins.