Challenges in implementing community-based dental education programs in Australia: The lived experiences of program...

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Community Health
• Healthcare Administration

Background:

• Community-based dental education (CBDE) offers substantial benefits for students, dental schools, and community partners.
• However, administrative barriers can negatively impact the effectiveness and outcomes of CBDE programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the implementation and management challenges encountered by dental school community-based dental education coordinators.
• To identify specific barriers in administering CBDE programs within Australian dental schools.

Main Methods:

• An Interpretive Phenomenological study utilizing in-depth, semi-structured interviews with six CBDE program coordinators from Australian dental schools.
• Interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams, audio-video recorded, and analyzed using NVivo 13 software.
• Key areas explored included administrative hurdles, resource needs, student supervision, and program development goals.

Main Results:

• Four primary themes emerged: program administration (scheduling, coordination, adaptation), funding (for remote sites), student experience management (supervision, behavior, exposure), and partner site relationships (supervisor recruitment and training).
• Challenges in coordinating logistics, securing adequate funding, managing student conduct and clinical exposure, and recruiting/training site supervisors were prominent.

Conclusions:

• Successful CBDE implementation necessitates robust planning, effective coordination, and evidence-based pedagogical approaches.
• Dental institutions should foster collaborations with community organizations, provide dedicated resources, and offer comprehensive guidance to coordinators, students, and clinical supervisors.