Students' perceptions on shadowing during COVID-19 and an exploration of innovative solutions for clinical exposure

The objective of this project was to evaluate the perceptions of predental students' shadowing experiences during a pandemic and further, explore innovative solutions that can be implemented to ensure that shadowing opportunities are equitable and accessible.

Data was collected via the Web 2.0 social media platform, Instagram (owned by Meta Platforms, Inc.) from 122 participants attending college in North America and are on the predental track: freshman (N = 11), sophomores (N = 25), juniors (N = 30), seniors (N = 34) and recent college graduates (N = 22). Participants completed a survey consisting of 20 questions.

Results showed that the pandemic disrupted traditional shadowing methods; students turned to various virtual platforms, such as YouTube and Zoom, to obtain shadowing experiences. There was an increase in the number of students who shadowed virtually during the pandemic versus pre-COVID-19. The majority of the respondents (80%) agreed that dental schools have not provided sufficient guidance on how to approach shadowing during a pandemic.

Innovative shadowing platforms should be implemented in order to help college students explore careers within dentistry and beyond. The development of a standardized virtual shadowing program with clear guidelines can increase equity and accessibility.