Student Perceptions About the Mission of Dental Schools to Advance Global Dentistry and Philanthropy

Abstract

In this study, 491 dental students at one dental school in the United States and one in Bulgaria were surveyed to assess their perceptions about the mission of dental schools to advance global dentistry and philanthropy. The study included questions about prior involvement in charitable dental missions. Many respondents felt that their dental school does not advance global dentistry nor adequately teaches students the virtues of philanthropy and volunteerism. The majority agreed, however, that dental schools have a moral obligation to raise the level of oral health care worldwide and help underserved communities access basic dental care. They reported that an opportunity to spend a semester at a foreign dental school would enhance their dental education in ways that are not presently fulilled; help them better understand cultural diversity; and teach them about philanthropy and volunteerism. In their opinion, international exchange programs that provide clinical rotations and ield experiences in economically challenged and underserved areas of the world would a) foster the global advancement of dentistry; b) promote an appreciation for cultural diversity and socioeconomic disparity in the communities that graduates will be serving; and c) teach students the virtues of philanthropy and volunteerism. This study may contribute to understanding factors affecting student involvement in programs to advance global dentistry.Dr. Ivanoff is Associate Professor,

Perceptions of Saudi dental students on cultural competency

“…The results concur with the survey conducted among American (95.8%) and Bulgarian (81.5%) students. 7 However, only half of the students surveyed at KSUCD thought that KSUCD’s mission statement emphasized teaching students to have compassion, nor promoted volunteerism (57.1%) in comparison with American (84.5%) and Bulgarian students (88.0%). This may indicate that the students perceived a need to specifically include these goals in KSUCD’s mission statement.…”

“…This may indicate that the students perceived a need to specifically include these goals in KSUCD’s mission statement. Students in general (86% Saudi, (83%) American, and 77.2% Bulgarian) 7 feel that it is a moral duty of their dental school to provide oral health care to those who lack access to equitable health care.…”

“…Survey questions were adopted from a previous study 7 comparing attitudes toward cultural competency training among American and Bulgarian dental students with slight alterations. A total of 460 questionnaires were distributed to male (n=274) and female (n=186) undergraduate students from the second year to fifth year at their respective campuses, at KSUCD, Riyadh, KSA.…”

“…The survey consisted of 15 yes/no questions. The original survey 7 consisted of 22 questions, but 7 questions were eliminated after the survey was pretested on a group of students who thought those questions were not easily understood. Thirteen questions were based on the KSUCD, American Dental Association (ADA), and CODA mission statements, while 2 questions asked the dental students if they were involved in any local or international volunteering missions ( Table 1 ).…”

Integrating Competency‐Based Didactic and Experiential Global Health Learning for Dental Students: The Global Health Learning Helix Model

“…Dental schools play a vital role in the improvement of oral health care worldwide, and reports have suggested that students believe dental schools have a moral obligation to address global oral health inequities 12,13 . Dental schools are responding to both growing need and student demand by providing a variety of global health experiences.…”