Evaluation of a Co-creation Approach to Student-delivered Oral Health Interventions for Marginalised Communities in Dundee

Aim: To assess the impact of student-delivered oral health interventions on student self-efficacy and attitudes while interacting with marginalised communities in Dundee.

Methods: This 2023 qualitative study at Dundee Dental Hospital involved 13 dental students, 2 supervisors, and 2 third-sector managers from the Dundee Dental Connect (DDC) project. Online focus groups were conducted, transcribed, and analysed thematically. The University of Dundee Ethics Committee approved the study, and all participants provided informed consent.

Results: Seven themes emerged: student competence and confidence, support structures, attitudes towards marginalised groups, community interaction, student engagement, community engagement challenges, and project sustainability. Nine (69%) of the students reported enhanced communication skills, 10 (77%) improved clinical application, and 13 (100%) increased empathy towards marginalised groups. Eleven (85%) emphasised trust-building's importance in preventive dentistry, while 8 (62%) highlighted project sustainability.

Conclusions: The DDC project demonstrated significant benefits of co-creation in dental education, enhancing student competencies, promoting empathy, and preparing future professionals to address oral health disparities. We have not evaluated any actual efficacy of the intervention to correlate with the student opinion. Further research is needed to explore long-term impacts and refine educational strategies for health equity.