Cultivating Professional Identity Through Community‐Based Dental Education: A Qualitative Study

<h3>Aim</h3><p dir="ltr">This study aimed to explore the role of community‐based dental education (CBDE) in shaping professional identity (PI) among predoctoral dental education students at a newly established dental college.</p><h3>Materials and Methods</h...

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Main Author: Sruthi Sunil (17789006) (author)
Other Authors: Nidhi Gupta (219966) (author), Kamran Ali (8861576) (author), Trine Fink (305885) (author), Xiangyun Du (6061697) (author)
Published: 2025
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author Sruthi Sunil (17789006)
author2 Nidhi Gupta (219966)
Kamran Ali (8861576)
Trine Fink (305885)
Xiangyun Du (6061697)
author2_role author
author
author
author
author_facet Sruthi Sunil (17789006)
Nidhi Gupta (219966)
Kamran Ali (8861576)
Trine Fink (305885)
Xiangyun Du (6061697)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Sruthi Sunil (17789006)
Nidhi Gupta (219966)
Kamran Ali (8861576)
Trine Fink (305885)
Xiangyun Du (6061697)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-06-01T00:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1002/jdd.13947
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Cultivating_Professional_Identity_Through_Community_Based_Dental_Education_A_Qualitative_Study/30455516
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Biomedical and clinical sciences
Dentistry
Education
Curriculum and pedagogy
Education systems
community-based dental education (CBDE)
dental curriculum
predoctoral dental education
professional identity (PI)
sociocultural approach
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Cultivating Professional Identity Through Community‐Based Dental Education: A Qualitative Study
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <h3>Aim</h3><p dir="ltr">This study aimed to explore the role of community‐based dental education (CBDE) in shaping professional identity (PI) among predoctoral dental education students at a newly established dental college.</p><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><p dir="ltr">Qualitative methods employing focus groups were used for data collection. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants meeting predefined eligibility criteria. Separate focus groups were planned for each cohort, and the aim was to recruit 6–10 participants for each focus group. The study adopted a subject‐centered sociocultural approach and thematic analysis to explore participants’ experiences highlighting how CBDE may contribute to PI development in predoctoral dental education.</p><h3>Results</h3><p dir="ltr">A total of 19 predoctoral dental students participated in three separate focus groups, comprising six students from Year 3, seven students from Year 4 and six students from Year 5. Deductive thematic analysis mapped CBDE activities across the four PI development dimensions: personal, clinical, interpersonal, and cultural. In the personal dimension, participants emphasized the role of self‐confidence and self‐reflection in their professional growth. The clinical dimension highlighted the development of decision‐making and technical skills through direct patient interaction. The interpersonal dimension underscored the importance of mentorship and teamwork in improving communication and problem‐solving skills. Exposure to diverse patients enhanced cultural competence, thus enabling tailored and sensitive care. CBDE supported all dimensions, facilitating PI development in predoctoral dental education.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p dir="ltr">CBDE plays a vital role in shaping PI by enhancing confidence, clinical expertise, decision‐making, communication, and cultural competence. These experiences prepared students for the complexities of contemporary dental practice and diverse healthcare environments. Despite the benefits of CBDE, challenges such as close supervision, balancing outreach programs with academic demands, and addressing resource limitations in diverse settings were noted.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Dental Education<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jdd.13947" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jdd.13947</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_4fd3c5a6115df0cfcf132b33eff01448
identifier_str_mv 10.1002/jdd.13947
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/30455516
publishDate 2025
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Cultivating Professional Identity Through Community‐Based Dental Education: A Qualitative StudySruthi Sunil (17789006)Nidhi Gupta (219966)Kamran Ali (8861576)Trine Fink (305885)Xiangyun Du (6061697)Biomedical and clinical sciencesDentistryEducationCurriculum and pedagogyEducation systemscommunity-based dental education (CBDE)dental curriculumpredoctoral dental educationprofessional identity (PI)sociocultural approach<h3>Aim</h3><p dir="ltr">This study aimed to explore the role of community‐based dental education (CBDE) in shaping professional identity (PI) among predoctoral dental education students at a newly established dental college.</p><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><p dir="ltr">Qualitative methods employing focus groups were used for data collection. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants meeting predefined eligibility criteria. Separate focus groups were planned for each cohort, and the aim was to recruit 6–10 participants for each focus group. The study adopted a subject‐centered sociocultural approach and thematic analysis to explore participants’ experiences highlighting how CBDE may contribute to PI development in predoctoral dental education.</p><h3>Results</h3><p dir="ltr">A total of 19 predoctoral dental students participated in three separate focus groups, comprising six students from Year 3, seven students from Year 4 and six students from Year 5. Deductive thematic analysis mapped CBDE activities across the four PI development dimensions: personal, clinical, interpersonal, and cultural. In the personal dimension, participants emphasized the role of self‐confidence and self‐reflection in their professional growth. The clinical dimension highlighted the development of decision‐making and technical skills through direct patient interaction. The interpersonal dimension underscored the importance of mentorship and teamwork in improving communication and problem‐solving skills. Exposure to diverse patients enhanced cultural competence, thus enabling tailored and sensitive care. CBDE supported all dimensions, facilitating PI development in predoctoral dental education.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p dir="ltr">CBDE plays a vital role in shaping PI by enhancing confidence, clinical expertise, decision‐making, communication, and cultural competence. These experiences prepared students for the complexities of contemporary dental practice and diverse healthcare environments. Despite the benefits of CBDE, challenges such as close supervision, balancing outreach programs with academic demands, and addressing resource limitations in diverse settings were noted.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Dental Education<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jdd.13947" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jdd.13947</a></p>2025-06-01T00:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1002/jdd.13947https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Cultivating_Professional_Identity_Through_Community_Based_Dental_Education_A_Qualitative_Study/30455516CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/304555162025-06-01T00:00:00Z
spellingShingle Cultivating Professional Identity Through Community‐Based Dental Education: A Qualitative Study
Sruthi Sunil (17789006)
Biomedical and clinical sciences
Dentistry
Education
Curriculum and pedagogy
Education systems
community-based dental education (CBDE)
dental curriculum
predoctoral dental education
professional identity (PI)
sociocultural approach
status_str publishedVersion
title Cultivating Professional Identity Through Community‐Based Dental Education: A Qualitative Study
title_full Cultivating Professional Identity Through Community‐Based Dental Education: A Qualitative Study
title_fullStr Cultivating Professional Identity Through Community‐Based Dental Education: A Qualitative Study
title_full_unstemmed Cultivating Professional Identity Through Community‐Based Dental Education: A Qualitative Study
title_short Cultivating Professional Identity Through Community‐Based Dental Education: A Qualitative Study
title_sort Cultivating Professional Identity Through Community‐Based Dental Education: A Qualitative Study
topic Biomedical and clinical sciences
Dentistry
Education
Curriculum and pedagogy
Education systems
community-based dental education (CBDE)
dental curriculum
predoctoral dental education
professional identity (PI)
sociocultural approach