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Developing dental education in primary care: the student perspective.
A Elkind1, A S Blinkhorn, F A Blinkhorn
1University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester M15 6FH, England, UK.
British Dental Journal
|February 26, 2005
Summary
This study evaluated a restorative dentistry outreach course. Students gained confidence in patient management and diagnosis, finding outreach and dental hospital experiences complementary.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education
- Community Dentistry
- Restorative Dentistry
Background:
- A pilot restorative dentistry outreach course was established in community clinics in 2001.
- Student feedback was collected via questionnaire to evaluate the course's impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess fourth-year dental students' opinions on a new restorative dentistry outreach course.
- To compare the perceived benefits and drawbacks of outreach versus traditional dental hospital clinics.
Main Methods:
- 48 fourth-year dental students completed a questionnaire.
- The questionnaire focused on student opinions regarding the outreach course and dental hospital clinics.
Main Results:
- Time management was a key gain from outreach.
- Outreach improved student confidence in areas like caries diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient management.
- The dental hospital was crucial for confidence in periodontal disease, prosthodontics, and laboratory communication.
- Students perceived outreach patients as unselected with different treatment needs compared to hospital patients.
Conclusions:
- The restorative dentistry outreach course and dental hospital provide complementary educational experiences.
- The new course successfully met its educational objectives.
- Outreach experiences were highly valued for developing practical clinical and patient management skills.