International student enrollment in US dental hygiene schools.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the international student enrollment in US dental hygiene programs, identify methods used to recruit and retain international students, and describe accommodations used for them.

METHOD

A 27-item, closed-ended questionnaire was mailed to all dental hygiene program directors (n = 216) in the US. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Responses were received from 154 dental hygiene program directors for a response rate of 71%. Of the 154 returned questionnaires, 70 (45%) dental hygiene program directors indicated that international students were enrolled in their programs, totalling 4% of the total student population, with female students outnumbering males. The highest international student population came from Canada (42%) followed by Asia (32%), Europe (10%), Central America (9%), South America (3%), and Africa and the Caribbean (2%). Six percent of dental hygiene programs actively recruited international students, 3% had an articulation agreement with institutions outside the US, and 96% did not offer special orientation for incoming international students.

CONCLUSION

Research showed a need for professional oral health services in other countries. US dental hygiene programs do not actively recruit nor retain international students. The benefits of US dental hygiene programs actively recruiting and retaining international students would be: 1) international students would be equipped to provide comprehensive, preventive oral health services upon returning to their native country 2) international students would foster a better understanding of cultural diversity, which could transfer to social and professional settings among students in US dental hygiene programs.