1Post graduate Student Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore
2Reader Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore
3Senior Lecturer Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore
4Professor, Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore
Online published on 6 September, 2018.
Dental student's attitudes towards access to dental care for the underserved may be impacted by participation in community oral health promotion programs that target individuals in underserved communities. Students who are appropriately trained and willing to treat these underserved communities can help to remove the barriers to access oral health care and eventually reduce oral health disparities, hence training more socially responsible dental students has to become an integral part in the dental education
A Cross sectional study was conducted among interns of all dental colleges in Bangalore city. A questionnaire with 5 point Likert scale taken from CSAS (Community Service Attitude Scale) were distributed to the interns who were present on the day of questionnaire distribution. Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS for Windows. Descriptive statistics are reported.
Out of 507 respondents 150(29.6%) interns were male and 357(70.4%) interns were females. Mean (SD) age of the interns was 23.41(1.24) years. 180(35.4%) interns feels interest was the biggest barrier to provide community oral health service. About 258(50.9%) students responded that they have volunteered occasionally in community oral health service during their dental school.
The interns of all the dental colleges in Bangalore city have positive attitude towards community oral health service.
Experience gained through community oral health service in dental colleges may positively impact dental student's attitude towards community oral health service that will eventually lead into providing care to the underserved.
Attitude, Community service, Oral health, Health, Dental student
