Dental Student Engagement in Research: A Survey of California Dental Schools

Objective Research engagement is a vital component of dental education, fostering the development of evidence-based practices and advancing the field of dentistry. Understanding factors that influence research involvement among dental students can help enhance educational strategies and support syst...

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Main Authors: Anthony Nguyen, Jocelyn B. Chen, Rachel J. Kulchar, Yvonne L. Kapila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of the California Dental Association
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19424396.2024.2432676
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author Anthony Nguyen
Jocelyn B. Chen
Rachel J. Kulchar
Yvonne L. Kapila
author_facet Anthony Nguyen
Jocelyn B. Chen
Rachel J. Kulchar
Yvonne L. Kapila
author_sort Anthony Nguyen
collection DOAJ
description Objective Research engagement is a vital component of dental education, fostering the development of evidence-based practices and advancing the field of dentistry. Understanding factors that influence research involvement among dental students can help enhance educational strategies and support systems.Methods This study used an online survey tool to examine patterns of research engagement and involvement in student research groups (SRGs) and evaluated the future research aspirations of students in California dental schools.Results Respondents (n = 94) were predominantly from the University of the Pacific (UOP) (44.7%), followed by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) (27.7%), and the University of Southern California (USC) (7.4%) with the remaining from Loma Linda University (LLU), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and Western University (Western U). The vast majority (73.4%) of respondents had undergraduate research experience. During their dental or PhD programs, 36.2% were members of SRGs with 54.2% involved in research. Only 18.1% joined SRGs in their first year. Additionally, 38.3% presented their research at conferences, and 25.5% published their research. In the future, 52.1% of students plan to continue research after graduation.Conclusions The number of students planning future research involvement underscores the need for continued promotion of research opportunities within dental programs. The level of SRG membership shows room for improving participation among students and the potential to increase early engagement. This data on student engagement in research highlight the importance of continued promotion of research opportunities in dental schools.
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spelling doaj-art-88258cee48144254af0d82dea37471492025-08-20T02:32:23ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of the California Dental Association1942-43962024-12-0152110.1080/19424396.2024.2432676Dental Student Engagement in Research: A Survey of California Dental SchoolsAnthony Nguyen0Jocelyn B. Chen1Rachel J. Kulchar2Yvonne L. Kapila3Los Angeles School of Dentistry, University of California, Sacramento, California, USALos Angeles School of Dentistry, University of California, Sacramento, California, USALos Angeles School of Dentistry, University of California, Sacramento, California, USALos Angeles School of Dentistry, University of California, Sacramento, California, USAObjective Research engagement is a vital component of dental education, fostering the development of evidence-based practices and advancing the field of dentistry. Understanding factors that influence research involvement among dental students can help enhance educational strategies and support systems.Methods This study used an online survey tool to examine patterns of research engagement and involvement in student research groups (SRGs) and evaluated the future research aspirations of students in California dental schools.Results Respondents (n = 94) were predominantly from the University of the Pacific (UOP) (44.7%), followed by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) (27.7%), and the University of Southern California (USC) (7.4%) with the remaining from Loma Linda University (LLU), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and Western University (Western U). The vast majority (73.4%) of respondents had undergraduate research experience. During their dental or PhD programs, 36.2% were members of SRGs with 54.2% involved in research. Only 18.1% joined SRGs in their first year. Additionally, 38.3% presented their research at conferences, and 25.5% published their research. In the future, 52.1% of students plan to continue research after graduation.Conclusions The number of students planning future research involvement underscores the need for continued promotion of research opportunities within dental programs. The level of SRG membership shows room for improving participation among students and the potential to increase early engagement. This data on student engagement in research highlight the importance of continued promotion of research opportunities in dental schools.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19424396.2024.2432676Dental educationdental researchprofessional educationnational student research group
spellingShingle Anthony Nguyen
Jocelyn B. Chen
Rachel J. Kulchar
Yvonne L. Kapila
Dental Student Engagement in Research: A Survey of California Dental Schools
Journal of the California Dental Association
Dental education
dental research
professional education
national student research group
title Dental Student Engagement in Research: A Survey of California Dental Schools
title_full Dental Student Engagement in Research: A Survey of California Dental Schools
title_fullStr Dental Student Engagement in Research: A Survey of California Dental Schools
title_full_unstemmed Dental Student Engagement in Research: A Survey of California Dental Schools
title_short Dental Student Engagement in Research: A Survey of California Dental Schools
title_sort dental student engagement in research a survey of california dental schools
topic Dental education
dental research
professional education
national student research group
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19424396.2024.2432676
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AT jocelynbchen dentalstudentengagementinresearchasurveyofcaliforniadentalschools
AT racheljkulchar dentalstudentengagementinresearchasurveyofcaliforniadentalschools
AT yvonnelkapila dentalstudentengagementinresearchasurveyofcaliforniadentalschools