Bimstein Enrique, Gardner Quinton W, Riley Joseph L, Gibson Robert W
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100426, Gainesville, FL 32610-0426, USA.
J Dent Educ. 2008 Dec;72(12):1493-509.
This article evaluates the educational, personal, and cultural attributes that motivate or inhibit dental students' participation in humanitarian and educational trips to underserved communities in Latin America. Interviews, concentrating on students' expectations and experiences, were conducted with students who participated in the trips and with those who did not. A survey of a larger group of students (including those interviewed) was also conducted; the survey included demographic data, ethnic affiliation, cultural competence, motivators and inhibitors to attend trips, and trip attributes. One hundred and seventy-four students at one dental school completed the survey; the group interviews were conducted with twenty-three students who attended humanitarian and educational trips and nine students who did not. This research found that skill development, educational opportunity, and philanthropy were the most important motivators for trip participation. Cost and time commitments were the strongest inhibitors to participate. Exposure to infectious diseases, substandard working and living conditions, threat of crime, and language barriers were mostly considered as "not important." However, female dental students were more concerned than males about crime, living conditions, and infectious diseases during the trips. Cultural education, increased knowledge, cross-cultural professional relationships, increased self-confidence, and public health awareness were the most important attributes of the trips. This study indicates that the undergraduate humanitarian educational trips to underserved Latin American communities have a most significant personal, professional, and social impact on dental students.
本文评估了激励或阻碍牙科学生参与前往拉丁美洲服务不足社区的人道主义和教育旅行的教育、个人及文化属性。对参加旅行的学生和未参加旅行的学生进行了访谈，重点关注学生的期望和经历。还对更大规模的学生群体（包括接受访谈的学生）进行了调查；该调查包括人口统计数据、种族归属、文化能力、参加旅行的动机和阻碍因素以及旅行属性。一所牙科学院的174名学生完成了调查；对23名参加人道主义和教育旅行的学生以及9名未参加旅行的学生进行了小组访谈。这项研究发现，技能发展、教育机会和慈善事业是参与旅行的最重要动机。成本和时间投入是参与旅行的最主要阻碍因素。接触传染病、工作和生活条件不达标准、犯罪威胁以及语言障碍大多被认为“不重要”。然而，女牙科学生比男学生更担心旅行期间的犯罪、生活条件和传染病问题。文化教育、知识增加、跨文化职业关系、自信心增强和公共卫生意识是旅行的最重要属性。这项研究表明，本科阶段前往拉丁美洲服务不足社区的人道主义教育旅行对牙科学生具有极其重大的个人、专业和社会影响。
