Professional knowledge acquisition of dental students employed part-time as dental assistants

Abstract

Introduction: Whilst admission to dental school in many jurisdictions requires applicants to shadow dentists or undertake work experience at a dental practice, little is known about the impacts on professional learning when dental students work part-time as dental assistants whilst concurrently studying dentistry. This paper explores what, how and from whom dental students who work as dental assistants acquire professional knowledges during employment. Methods: This study draws on a qualitative analysis of interviews with sixteen senior dental students who have extra-curricular part-time employment as dental assistants in private dental practices. Results: Analysis produced four themes that relate to students learning in the professional environment: students learn about the responsibilities, rhythms and routines of practice, as well as patient communication and interactions. Students embedded in the dental team noticed and related to the dispositions and the work of dentistry. Students learned from all members of the dental team including clinical and non-clinical staff (reception, administration, laboratory and sterilisation). Discussion: Students used their experiences in a practice setting to further their professional education. The ability to “read” a situation and formulate an appropriate response requires the integration of complex and actionable professional knowledges. Conclusion: This research study presents insight into the ways dental students employed as dental assistants are embedded in and learn from the dental team in a critically evaluative manner. Students professionally notice and make sense of complex practice environments whilst undertaking university studies to learn about practice routines, rhythms and responsibilities as well as advancing confidence in relating with patients. This study provides a stimulus for further research about the contribution of workplace experiences to dental education. © 2022 The Authors. European Journal of Dental Education published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Professional knowledge Dental education dental assistant dental practice dental student professional noticing

Index Keywords

Employment learning adult female human male Humans Article interview workplace Vocational education qualitative analysis responsibility clinical article dental student dentistry professional knowledge Education, Professional dental assistant dental practice Students, Dental dental education Education, Dental instrument sterilization parttime employment Dental Assistants

Author Affiliations

Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia

The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Funding & Acknowledgements

University of Sydney, Usyd

We sincerely appreciate the generosity of the students who participated in this research project. Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Sydney, as part of the Wiley - The University of Sydney agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.

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Professional knowledge acquisition of dental students employed part-time as dental assistants

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