An Investigation of the Effect of Clinical Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dental Studentsʼ Attitudes toward Older Adults

Abstract

　Japan has one of the worldʼs highest rates of population aging. Therefore, it is necessary for dentists to acquire a broad understanding of older adults. They are also required to learn to interact with older adults through gerodontology clinical practice and homebound dentistry practice. However, several students could not receive such training due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate changes in attitudes toward older adults and the self-assessment of knowledge in dentistry among older adults before and after clinical practice in gerodontology from 2019 to 2021. The study used a questionnaire on required competencies, consisting of behavioral and achievement goals for older adults and the Japanese version of the Attitudes Towards the Elderly（ATE）, which represents emotional attitudes toward older adults. The results demonstrate that students self-rated their abilities more positively after clinical practice and homebound dentistry practice than before（p<0.01）. Attitudes toward older adults also changed more favorably（p=0.012）. However, when comparing the amount of change in each survey item based on experience of home-based dentistry practice and the duration of interruption of clinical practice, no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups. This study showed changes in attitudes toward older adults and self-evaluation of required competencies through clinical practice. The evaluation of changes in attitudes toward older adults and self-evaluation of knowledge in gerodontology may help to confirm the effectiveness of training in gerodontology and to improve the content of future education.