title: A global probe into dental student perceptions about philanthropy, global dentistry and international student exchanges.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Training culturally competent graduates who can practice effectively in a multicultural environment is a goal of contemporary dental education. The Global Oral Health Initiative is a network of dental schools seeking to promote global dentistry as a component of cultural competency training.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Before initiating international student exchanges, a survey was conducted to assess students' awareness of global dentistry and interest in cross-national clerkships.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 22-question, YES/NO survey was distributed to 3,487 dental students at eight schools in seven countries. The questions probed students about their school's commitment to enhance their education by promoting global dentistry, volunteerism and philanthropy. The data were analysed using Vassarstats statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 2,371 students (67.9%) completed the survey. Cultural diversity was seen as an important component of dental education by 72.8% of the students, with two-thirds (66.9%) acknowledging that their training provided preparation for understanding the oral health care needs of disparate peoples. A high proportion (87.9%) agreed that volunteerism and philanthropy are important qualities of a well-rounded dentist, but only about one-third felt that their school supported these behaviours (36.2%) or demonstrated a commitment to promote global dentistry (35.5%). In addition, 87.4% felt that dental schools are morally bound to improve oral health care in marginalised global communities and should provide students with international exchange missions (91%), which would enhance their cultural competency (88.9%) and encourage their participation in charitable missions after graduation (67.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests that dental students would value international exchanges, which may enhance students' knowledge and self-awareness related to cultural competence.
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.|Faculty of Dental Medicine, Sofia Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Chris S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ivanoff
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dental Medicine, Sofia Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Krassimira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yaneva
authors.affiliation: Center for Technology and National Security Policy, National Defense University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Bogomil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andonov
authors.affiliation: Divya Jyoti College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Reena R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Divya Jyoti College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anirudha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agnihotry
authors.affiliation: Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Athena E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ivanoff
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, National and Kappodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Emmanouil
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Cuiabá, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Evaristo Ricci
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Volpato
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Saints Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia (FYROM).
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koneski
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Saints Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia (FYROM).
authors.forename: Ilijana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muratovska
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Huda A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Al-Shehri
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Al-Taweel
authors.affiliation: Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health, University of Sydney, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daly
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005653:Fund Raising; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies
keywords: Cultural competency training; global dentistry; global survey; international student exchanges; student perceptions