Exploring learning through volunteerism at a student-run community dental clinic

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Community Health
• Student Learning

Background:

• The Student Health Initiative for the Needs of Edmonton (SHINE) is a student-run dental clinic offering free oral healthcare to low-income individuals in Edmonton, Canada.
• Operated independently by the Dental Students' Association, SHINE provides supervised clinical experience for students under volunteer dental professionals.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests SHINE offers significant learning opportunities beyond formal education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the specific ways the SHINE volunteer experience contributes to the learning and professional development of dental and dental hygiene students.
• To identify the key components of the SHINE program that foster student learning in a community-based setting.

Main Methods:

• The study employed interpretive description methodology.
• Data were collected from 19 dentistry and dental hygiene students across 5 focus groups, utilizing maximum variation purposeful sampling.
• Manifest thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Learning was enhanced through a facilitative environment characterized by appropriate pace, preceptor ratios, autonomy, and collaboration.
• Students benefited from learning-conducive roles that supplemented their existing clinical skills.
• Patient encounters fostered empathy, improved communication strategies, and increased awareness of diverse patient circumstances.

Conclusions:

• Student volunteering at SHINE yields significant learning benefits, enhancing clinical skills and patient interaction.
• The study highlights the need for enhanced cultural sensitivity training in dental education.
• Findings suggest a student desire for more "real-life" clinical experiences and a potential shift in grading approaches upon competency achievement.