Driving Success: Recruitment, Retention, and Attrition of Part-Time Clinical Instructors

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Workforce Dynamics
• Human Resources in Academia

Background:

• Part-time clinical instructors (PTCIs) are vital to dental education.
• Understanding factors influencing their engagement is crucial for program sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore demographics and key factors affecting recruitment, retention, and attrition of PTCIs in dental education.
• To identify actionable strategies for optimizing the PTCI workforce.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive survey was administered to past, current, and potential PTCIs (graduating dental students, general practitioners, specialists).
• Survey covered demographics and motivational factors for recruitment, retention, and attrition.
• 17 graduating dental students, 85 general practitioners, and 21 specialists completed the survey.

Main Results:

• Female PTCIs reported higher psychosocial motivators.
• Key factors influencing engagement included clinical organization, student attitudes, and college climate.
• Personalized recruitment, mentorship, flexibility, and inclusive environments boosted retention.
• Financial stress, practice demands, and inadequate support drove attrition.

Conclusions:

• Findings offer actionable insights for dental administrators to enhance PTCI recruitment and retention.
• Emphasizing mentorship, tailored support, and fair compensation can create a sustainable PTCI framework.
• Future research should broaden institutional scope and stakeholder inclusion.