Arghavan Behbahanirad - Department of Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Sarina Sahmeddini - Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Reyhaneh Karimnezhand Khas - Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Arash Shojaei - School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Background: Throughout the COVID-۱۹ pandemic, virtual teaching can be more complex, and teachers’ role in motivating students is more critical than before and must be taken into consideration; therefore, this study aimed to determine the role and influence of dentistry lecturers on students’ motivation during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in ۲۰۲۱ in the dental school of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The standardized questionnaires used included demographic data, teachers’ characteristics (educational development, performance, personality, and assessment) (Cronbach’s alpha as ۰.۹۱), and students’ motivational aspects (intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation) (Cronbach’s alpha of ۰.۸۷) which was sent online for ۲۰۰ students. The questions were scored on a ۵-point Likert scale, and the collected data was analyzed in Excel and SPSS version ۲۰.۰, using independent sample t-test, post-hoc ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation.Results: Results revealed that professional development had the highest average scores, and the lecturers were mostly qualified as experts on the subject (knowledge) (۳.۳۰±۰.۹۸۷). The assessment was considered as the weakest point of the teachers (۲.۴۱ out of ۵). Dentistry students’ intrinsic motivation (۳.۲۰±۰.۷۷۴) was higher than extrinsic motivation (۲.۷۶±۰.۹۹۱) (P<۰.۰۰۱). The Pearson correlation values of all teachers’ characteristics and students’ motivation were from ۰ to ۰.۳. However, the relationship between the teachers’ characteristics and students’ intrinsic motivation was insignificant (P>۰.۰۵).Conclusion: The characteristics of teachers at the faculty of Dentistry at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences had either no or little relationship with the students’ academic motivation during COVID-۱۹ pandemic. This would make arrangement of dental programs in universities in different faculties and disciplines easier in different situations including virtual teaching.

Dental Teachers, Motivation, Dental Students, COVID-۱۹, Virtual teaching