302 - Pandemic’s Impact on Tufts’ Alumni Preparedness and Pursuing Advanced Education

Friday, May 27, 2022

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM PT

Location: Sails Pavilion

Has Audio

Presenting Author(s)

ND

Natalie Deleanu, DDS

Pediatric Dental Resident
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Co-Author(s)

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Gerald Swee, BS, MS, DMD

Tufts University
MF

Matthew Finkelman, PhD

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Program Director(s)

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Cheen Y. Loo, BDS, PhD, MPH, DMD

Professor, Chair and Program Director
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess clinical readiness and the motivation to pursue advanced education amongst dental students from the graduating years of 2019, 2020, and 2021 at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine during the slowdown of clinical activities.

Methods: A 25-question survey was developed and validated. The survey consisted of questions regarding demographics, the effect of the pandemic on students’ mental wellbeing, education, career plans post-graduation, and students’ self-perceived readiness to enter clinical practice or residency. The survey was emailed via listservs to the Tufts’ alumni from the graduating classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021 and was administered through Qualtrics.

Results: Thirty-three responses to the survey were collected: 9 from the graduating class of 2019, 7 from the class of 2020, and 17 from the class of 2021. Fifty-eight percent of participants reported thinking about pursuing advanced education after graduation. The most common factor influencing plans after graduation was clinical preparedness (64%), followed by a desire to pursue an interest (30%), and debt (27%). Eighteen percent reported that they felt very confident about entering clinical practice or advanced education, while 30% reported feeling somewhat confident.

Conclusions: A majority of Tufts’ dental students graduating in 2019, 2020, and 2021 considered pursuing advanced education after graduation. Clinical preparedness was the most common factor influencing their plans. There was considerable variation among Tufts’ dental students regarding their confidence level about entering clinical practice or advanced education.