title: Community-based learning in a challenging context: the development and evaluation of an outreach dental public health programme in Damascus University, Syria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to describe the development and evaluation of an outreach dental public health (DPH) programme in Damascus University, in terms of developing undergraduates' required knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA), improving the quality aspects of training and assessment (T&A), and achieving the satisfaction of served children and their social network.
  
  
  METHODS
  The outreach DPH programme offered opportunities to undergraduates to carry out outreach health-promotion activities, conduct and communicate the results of applied DPH research, and build partnership with students in other higher education sectors. A cross-sectional evaluation collected mixed qualitative and quantitative data, by a means of a short-essay and a self-completed questionnaire, from 400 third-year dental undergraduates, on KSA gained from outreach activities and quality aspects of T&A. The latter were compared with corresponding figures of other traditional dental programmes (TDP). Satisfaction with the outreach activities were collected from 215 children with special needs and 130 parents and school staff, by questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rates were 74.8%, 100% and 100% for undergraduates, children and parents/school staff, respectively. The derived categories of students' gained KSA included the following: unique clinical skills, social responsibility, voluntarism, communication, team working, personal growth, reflection on career aspirations and self-satisfaction with the contribution to needy groups. Their satisfaction with quality aspects of T&A was significantly higher than TDP (P < 0.001). Children's and parents/school staff's satisfaction was high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outreach DPH programme in Damascus University is a successful example of developing undergraduates' required KSA, improving the quality aspects of T&A, and achieving the satisfaction of served community.
authors: Oral Medicine Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.|Centre for Oral Growth and Development, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Joury
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000193:education*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011636:Public Health Dentistry / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013593:Syria
keywords: Syria; community-based learning; evaluation; outreach dental public health