What determines positive student perceptions of extramural clinical rotations? An analysis using 2003 ADEA Senior Survey data.

Extramural clinical rotations are an integral part of many dental school curricula. Schools in The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/The California Endowment Pipeline, Profession, and Practice program are increasing student extramural opportunities to expose students to patients of different needs, cultures, and dental delivery modes. Using data from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) 2003 Senior Survey, the Pipeline, Profession, and Practice National Evaluation Team studied graduating dental students' perceptions about their extramural rotations. This analysis was designed to determine the factors associated with students' perception of their extramural clinical rotations: was it a positive experience in their dental education, and did it improve students' perceptions of their ability to provide care for racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse groups? The respondents were 2,950 graduating seniors who reported at least one week of extramural rotation experience. After controlling for both individual and school level characteristics, this study found that race/ethnicity, a stronger socially conscious attitudes score, number of weeks spent in extramural rotations, and the student's rating of time spent in extramural rotations were significant determinants of the extramural rotations being reported as positive experiences. With respect to improving students' ability to provide care to racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse groups, more positive student socially conscious attitudes, a greater number of weeks spent in the rotations, a stronger service orientation for selecting dentistry as a career, and the students' rating of their time spent in extramural rotations were significant determinants. In conclusion, there is some evidence that time spent in extramural rotations may be perceived as positive dental school experiences and, for some students, may prepare them to work effectively with culturally diverse patients by the time of dental school graduation.