Teaching social responsibility through community service-learning in predoctoral dental education. 2012

Mario A Brondani
Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada. brondani@dentistry.ubc.ca

Social responsibility refers to one's sense of duty to the society in which he or she lives. The Professionalism and Community Service (PACS) dental module at the University of British Columbia is based upon community service-learning and helps dental students to understand the challenges faced by vulnerable segments of the population as they actively reflect on experiences gathered from didactic and experiential activities. This article aims to illustrate the extent to which PACS has fostered awareness of social responsibility through the British Columbia Ministry of Education's Performance Standards Framework for Social Responsibility. Reflections were gathered from students in all four years of the D.M.D. program and were analyzed thematically in three categories of the framework: Contribution to the Classroom and Community, Value of Diversity in the Community, and Exercise of Responsibilities. The constant comparison analysis of the reflective qualitative data revealed that the students directly or indirectly addressed these three categories in their reflections as they synthesized their understanding of community issues and their collaborative roles as socially responsible members of the dental profession. Follow-up studies are needed to explore the impact of community-based dental education upon students' perceptions and understanding of social responsibility and professionalism regarding underserved communities.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008507 Medically Underserved Area A geographic location which has insufficient health resources (manpower and/or facilities) to meet the medical needs of the resident population. National Health Service Corps,Physician Shortage Area,Area, Medically Underserved,Health Service Corps, National,Medically Underserved Population,Area, Physician Shortage,Areas, Medically Underserved,Areas, Physician Shortage,Medically Underserved Areas,Medically Underserved Populations,Physician Shortage Areas,Population, Medically Underserved,Populations, Medically Underserved,Shortage Area, Physician,Shortage Areas, Physician,Underserved Area, Medically,Underserved Areas, Medically,Underserved Population, Medically,Underserved Populations, Medically
D001955 British Columbia A province of Canada on the Pacific coast. Its capital is Victoria. The name given in 1858 derives from the Columbia River which was named by the American captain Robert Gray for his ship Columbia which in turn was named for Columbus. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p178 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p81-2)
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003149 Community Dentistry The practice of dentistry concerned with preventive as well as diagnostic and treatment programs in a circumscribed population. Dentistry, Community
D003159 Community-Institutional Relations The interactions between members of a community and representatives of the institutions within that community. Community Outreach,Community Relations,Community Institutional Relations,Community Relation,Community-Institutional Relation,Outreach, Community,Relation, Community,Relation, Community-Institutional,Relations, Community,Relations, Community-Institutional
D003299 Cooperative Behavior The interaction of two or more persons or organizations directed toward a common goal which is mutually beneficial. An act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit, i.e., joint action. (From Random House Dictionary Unabridged, 2d ed) Compliant Behavior,Behavior, Compliant,Behavior, Cooperative,Compliant Behaviors,Cooperative Behaviors
D004497 Education, Dental Use for articles concerning dental education in general. Dental Education
D004990 Ethics, Dental The principles of proper professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of the dentist, relations with patients and fellow practitioners, as well as actions of the dentist in patient care and interpersonal relations with patient families. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Dental Ethics,Dental Ethic,Ethic, Dental
D006293 Health Promotion Encouraging consumer behaviors most likely to optimize health potentials (physical and psychosocial) through health information, preventive programs, and access to medical care. Health Campaigns,Promotion of Health,Wellness Programs,Promotional Items,Campaign, Health,Campaigns, Health,Health Campaign,Health Promotions,Item, Promotional,Items, Promotional,Program, Wellness,Programs, Wellness,Promotion, Health,Promotional Item,Promotions, Health,Wellness Program
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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