Abstract
A potential solution to the problem of how to increase access to dental care for the un-derserved and vulnerable populations is to establish an early pipeline of underrepresented and minority college students for a career in dentistry. This study aims to explore factors associated with such pre-dental students’ future intentions to serve. A cross-sectional design was utilized with 144 participants completing the questionnaire with four sections, including participants’ demograph-ics, experience in access to dental care, psychosocial factors, and intention to serve the underserved and vulnerable populations. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared test, and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. A positive attitude (OR = 12.03) and higher confidence towards addressing access to dental care issues (OR = 10.43) were found to be the strongest factor for higher intention to serve the underserved and vulnerable populations. Higher knowledge on the prevalence of dental caries among children (OR = 3.18) and participants who experienced difficulty in getting a dental appointment, or finding an available dentist when needed (OR = 3.43), were also associated with higher intention. Identifying key factors associated with higher intention to serve the underserved and vulnerable populations as a future dentist may facilitate workforce recruitment in the Health Profession Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 111 |
Journal | Dentistry Journal |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2022 |
Keywords
- career in dentistry
- career path
- children
- pre-dental students
- predictors
- underrepresented minority
- underserved community
- vulnerable population
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Dentistry