Accuracy of Dental Students' Predictions Regarding Which Underserved Populations They Anticipate Treating Post‐Graduation

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this longitudinal study was to determine whether dental students who expressed a willingness to treat underserved populations actually treat them as practicing dentists. METHODS: Since Fall 2008, dental students at the University of Iowa have completed a student survey assessing their willingness to treat 13 underserved populations five or more years post-graduation. A follow-up alumni survey was developed and mailed in Fall 2023 to the 741 alumni who graduated between 2009 and 2018. The alumni survey inquired whether they provide care to the same 13 populations. Alumni's responses were matched to their student surveys that they completed during their D1 and D4 years of dental school. Descriptive statistics were calculated to depict the characteristics of the respondents. McNemar's tests were conducted to assess significant differences between participants' responses as students versus their responses as alumni. RESULTS: In total, 227 alumni surveys were received. There were 135 D1 surveys and 155 D4 surveys that could be matched to a corresponding alumni survey. McNemar's tests revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) for seven patient populations when comparing D1 and alumni responses, and eight patient populations when comparing D4 and alumni responses. Although many respondents reported treating more underserved populations as alumni than they had anticipated as dental students, they overestimated their future treatment of certain populations such as Medicaid, homebound/nursing home, and incarcerated patients. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that, in general, respondents treated a broader spectrum of patients than they anticipated treating while they were dental students.