title: Evaluation of an outreach education model over five years: Perception of dental students and their outreach clinical mentors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective was to investigate changes in students' and clinical mentors' perceptions of a model for outreach education over a 5-year period, 2006-2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cohorts of last-year students of a dental problem-based curriculum and their clinical mentors in the Public Dental Service (PDS) were invited to respond to a questionnaire. In 2006, 85% of 54 students and 72% of their 54 mentors responded; 98% of 40 students and 88% of 41 of the mentors did so in 2010. Participants scored their level of agreement with different statements on a numeric rating scale and gave comments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dental students and their clinical mentors reported that they shared a consistent and favourable perception of this outreach education model over 5 years. The students reported increased professional confidence and self-reliance. Clinical mentors expressed a transfer of knowledge to their clinics. Differences in scoring were seen between students and mentors for two statements in 2006 and two statements in 2010 (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current model for outreach education received favourable and stable ratings over the 5-year period. This model resulted in that students perceived that they became self-reliant, which may facilitate their transition from being a student to becoming a professional. The current model supports exchange and professional development for students, faculty and outreach clinics. This leads us to look at outreach education as an opportunity to form a mutual learning community comprised of the outreach clinics and the dental school.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leisnert
authors.affiliation: Folktandvården Skåne, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Redmo Emanuelsson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papia
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ericson
mesh_terms: D003151:Community Health Centers; D003479:Curriculum; D003729:Dental Care; D004497:Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
keywords: community-based education; dental students; evaluation; extramural; outreach education quality development