Patient Experience of a Student-Led Rural Indigenous Outplacement Dental Clinic

The study aimed to explore the patient view of care provided by a student-led rural Indigenous dental clinic and of service access.

Clinic patients voluntarily undertook a short exit survey on completion of their care. Participants were asked how they initially knew about the service and the location from which they had travelled to attend. A 5-point Likert scale ranging from Very Satisfied to Very Dissatisfied measured patient satisfaction with the dental clinic services.

Participants (n = 159) age ranged from 18 years, with 49% (78/159) aged over 55, while 60% (96/159) were female. Indigenous status was identified by 48% (77/159) of survey participants. Referral by the local Indigenous Health Service was the primary means of introduction to the dental clinic for patients, with word of mouth second. Patients travelling from outside the local area accounted for 41% (66/159) of dental clinic clientele. An overwhelming 97.5% (155/159) 'Very Satisfied' response by participants indicated their unqualified acceptance and approval of the quality of student-led provision of oral healthcare services.

Patients highly rated the students' oral healthcare provision. The clinic's presence greatly facilitated access to dental care for local area residents and Indigenous clients living geographically much farther afield.