Assessment of a dental rural teaching program

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Rural Health
• Clinical Skills Training

Background:

• Rural areas face challenges in dental workforce distribution.
• Dental undergraduate education traditionally focuses on urban settings.
• Assessing the impact of rural placements is crucial for addressing workforce needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a rural clinical placement program.
• To assess changes in dental students' self-perceived clinical skills.
• To determine the influence of rural placements on post-graduation work location choices.

Main Methods:

• A one-month rural clinical placement was implemented for fourth-year dental undergraduates.
• Pre- and post-placement questionnaires assessed self-reported clinical skills and rural work intentions.
• Clinical supervisor and faculty interviews provided qualitative feedback on student performance.

Main Results:

• Rural placement students showed a significantly greater increase in self-perceived clinical skills compared to non-placement students.
• Clinical supervisors observed enhanced confidence and ability in students post-placement.
• 96% of students who completed the rural placement expressed increased likelihood of rural practice.

Conclusions:

• Rural clinical placements effectively enhance dental students' self-perceived clinical skills.
• These placements foster positive attitudes towards rural dental practice among graduates.
• Rural placements are a valuable strategy for improving the rural dental workforce.