Presentation Category
Research
Introduction/Context/Diagnosis
Student Community Outreach for Public Education (SCOPE) at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry conducted a follow up survey among dental students in the class of IDS 2020, DDS 2021 & DDS 2020. The purpose of the survey was to gauge the interest of dental students in participating in extramural clinical enrichment programs as well as survey their interest in a public health selective. The data from the 2019 survey is presented in a statistical form and is also compared to the data received from a similar survey conducted in both 2018 and 2016.
Methods/Treatment Plan
A survey consisting of 15 questions was sent out to the classes of IDS 2020, DDS 2021, and DDS 2020. The application used for conducting the survey was google forms. The responses were calculated into a graphical format within the google form software.
Results/Outcome
73 students out of 141 in the DDS 2020 class, 52 students out of 140 in the DDS 2019 class and 23 students out of 25 in the IDS 2019 class replied to the survey sent out.
A majority of students indicated that they would be interested in participating in an extramural clinical enrichment with Saturdays being preferred over academic breaks. 66% of responses indicated a “yes” to academic breaks while a higher 80% of responses to Saturdays. Both surveys from 2018 and 2016 showed that students would prefer a program during Saturdays compared to academic breaks. Students would prefer to volunteer 1 Saturday per month if the program were to be held on Saturdays versus 2 days per quarter during an academic break. The 2018 survey departs from the results of the 2016 survey in which students indicated they would like to participate in the program as much as possible in 2016. In the 2018 Survey, 51% of students indicated that they would be willing to participate in a program if no credit was given with another 41% responding with a “maybe”. In 2016, though, a much higher 93% of respondents were willing to participate without credit.
A clear majority of students all indicated that they felt a clinical externship would make them more adept at treating more patients per day, at working in a community health clinic, and at using a wider variety of EHR programs with 74%, 89%, and 87% ”Yes” responses respectively. In addition, responses indicated that students would prefer 2 days per quarter were a selective to be given quarter 8,9,10.
Significance/Conclusions
Pacific strives to provide students with opportunities to help local communities and expand our influence throughout the bay area. Many students choose Pacific due to the intense clinical preparation of the curriculum. Numerous students expressed interest in clinical externship opportunities and felt that the clinical externships would make them more competent/adept at working in a community health clinic. Although students were unsure about how many days they would be able to devote to community clinics, there is a resounding interest in gaining more experience and students are willing to devote at least one Saturday a month. Finally, the school needs to create an official extra-mural clinical enrichment program in order to funnel more students into community clinics. Administration is considering a community oral health selective in quarter 8, 9, and 1. Providing opportunities for students who are interested in community oral health should be a primary goal for our school and to make a difference in the local communities.
Format
Event
Extramural Clinical Enrichment Weekends & Breaks: Updated Survey of Dugoni Dental Students For The Year of 2019
Student Community Outreach for Public Education (SCOPE) at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry conducted a follow up survey among dental students in the class of IDS 2020, DDS 2021 & DDS 2020. The purpose of the survey was to gauge the interest of dental students in participating in extramural clinical enrichment programs as well as survey their interest in a public health selective. The data from the 2019 survey is presented in a statistical form and is also compared to the data received from a similar survey conducted in both 2018 and 2016.
Comments/Acknowledgements
This project was supported by SCOPE at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Special thanks to Professor Miller for her support and coordination of the survey.