Dental students' perceived comfort and future willingness to treat underserved populations: surveys prior to and immediately after extramural experiences

Raymond A Kuthy; Michelle R McQuistan; Keith E Heller; Katharine J Riniker-Pins; Fang Qian

doi:10.1111/j.1754-4505.2010.00161.x

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Dental students' perceived comfort and future willingness to treat underserved populations: surveys prior to and immediately after extramural experiences

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Dental students' perceived comfort and future willingness to treat underserved populations: surveys prior to and immediately after extramural experiences

Raymond A Kuthy, Michelle R McQuistan, Keith E Heller, Katharine J Riniker-Pins and Fang Qian

Special care in dentistry, Vol.30(6), pp.242-249

11/2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2010.00161.x

PMCID: PMC3003618

PMID: 21044104

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3003618View

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the perceived change in comfort level and future willingness of senior dental students toward treating 12 different groups of traditionally underserved populations. Written surveys of senior dental students were conducted prior to and after completing extramural clinical rotations. A Likert-type scale was used to assess student comfort, whereas future willingness to treat these populations was dichotomous. Over a 13-year period (1992-2004), 560 students completed both surveys. There was an improvement in students' comfort level for 7 of 12 groups after the community-based assignments, yet there were no differences among population groups based on students' gender or assignments. There were positive changes for future willingness to treat patients who were mentally compromised, homeless, and non-English speaking, while there was a negative change for treating patients who were frail and elderly and those who were HIV+ or had AIDS. Students with improved comfort levels were more apt to be willing to treat patients who were frail elderly, medically complex, mentally compromised, and non-English speaking in the future. While student comfort in treating several groups improved after completion of the community-based experiences, there were mixed results for future willingness to treat underserved populations.

Community Dentistry - education

Attitude of Health Personnel

Dental Care - psychology

Iowa

Medically Underserved Area

Preceptorship

Humans

Vulnerable Populations

Longitudinal Studies

Students, Dental - psychology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Dental students' perceived comfort and future willingness to treat underserved populations: surveys prior to and immediately after extramural experiences
Creators: Raymond A Kuthy - Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. raymond-kuthy@uiowa.edu
Michelle R McQuistan
Keith E Heller
Katharine J Riniker-Pins
Fang Qian
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Special care in dentistry, Vol.30(6), pp.242-249
DOI: 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2010.00161.x
PMID: 21044104
PMCID: PMC3003618
NLM abbreviation: Spec Care Dentist
ISSN: 1754-4505
eISSN: 1754-4505
Publisher: United States
Grant note: T32 DE014678 / NIDCR NIH HHS T32 DE14678 / NIDCR NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 11/2010
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry; Public Policy Center (Archive); Dental Research
Record Identifier: 9983917764002771

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