The perceptions of dental practitioners of their role as clinical teachers in a UK outreach dental clinic

Community-based dental education supports the General Dental Council learning outcomes by enabling integrated clinical practice in a primary care setting. There is little available research to identify any additional demands on the outreach clinical teacher. A case study using mixed methods, including interviews, was used to identify the supposed skills and attributes required and the individuals' perception of their preparedness for their teaching role. An online questionnaire survey of student and staff groups (N = 474) was analysed and the results informed a topic guide used in semi-structured interviews of outreach clinical teachers (N = 8). The in-depth interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. The most desirable skills and attributes of best clinical teachers were perceived to be clinical competence, being current and able to provide clinical demonstration of procedures and to serve as a positive role model. In addition, attributes of being very experienced clinicians and providers of a safe learning environment were expressed as being particularly important to the outreach clinicians, of whom the majority felt somewhat isolated and ill-prepared for their teaching role. Outreach clinicians perceive benefit from integration with the main dental hospital site and of specific induction to their teaching role.