Research article summary:

Dental students reflections on their community-based experiences: the use of critical incidents.

Abstract Extract:
Dental schools are challenged to develop new learning methodologies and experiences to better prepare future dental practitioners. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the community-based experiences of dental students as documented in ... (Full abstract text below)

Published 2003May in Journal: J Dent Educ (Language : eng)

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1. J Dent Educ. 2003 May;67(5):515-23

Dental students' reflections on their community-based experiences: the use of critical incidents.

Mofidi M, Strauss R, Pitner LL, Sandler ES

Department of Dental Ecology, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

Dental schools are challenged to develop new learning methodologies and experiences to better prepare future dental practitioners. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the community-based experiences of dental students as documented in their critical incident essays and explore what learning outcomes and benefits students reported. Following two required community-based clinical rotations, each student wrote a reflection essay on a self-defined critical incident that occurred during the rotations. Rotations took place in settings such as a public health clinic, special needs facility, hospital, or correctional institution. Essays for two classes of students were content-analyzed for recurring themes and categories. Students were confronted in their rotations with a wide range of situations not typically encountered in dental academic settings. Their essays showed that, as a result of these rotations, students developed increased self-awareness, empathy, communications skills, and self-confidence. Critical incidents challenged assumptions and stereotypes, enhanced awareness of the complexities of dental care, and raised complex ethical dilemmas. The essays also illustrated a heightened sense of professional identity and enabled students to appreciate the role dentistry can play in impacting patients' lives. We concluded from the study that community-based dental education that includes a process for reflection holds promise as an educational strategy to facilitate the personal and professional development of future dentists.

PMID : 12809186 [PubMed - Indexed for MEDLINE]

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Full Author Information

First Name	LastName	Initials
Mahyar	Mofidi	M
Ronald	Strauss	R
Leslie L	Pitner	LL
Eugene S	Sandler	ES

Affiliation: Department of Dental Ecology, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

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