Current practice, barriers and drivers to embedding environmental sustainability in undergraduate dental schools in the UK and Ireland

Dixon, Jonathan, Martin, Nicolas and Field, James ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5462-4156 2024. Current practice, barriers and drivers to embedding environmental sustainability in undergraduate dental schools in the UK and Ireland. British Dental Journal 237 (9) , 723–728. 10.1038/s41415-024-8011-6

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Abstract

Aims This study aimed to: i) identify current teaching practice and approaches to embedding environmental sustainability (ES) in the undergraduate dental curriculum in the UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI); and ii) uncover existing barriers and drivers to incorporating ES in dental education. Methods A questionnaire was developed and distributed to all dental schools in the UK and ROI in the form of an online survey. The intended respondents were deans, heads of schools, directors of education, or senior academics of all dental schools in the UK and ROI that deliver undergraduate dentistry/dental surgery programmes. Results In total, 18 dental schools responded to the survey, representing a response rate of 100% from the intended respondents. Note 56% of dental schools do not currently teach ES. Time constraints and a lack of knowledge and learning resources were the most reported barriers. Conclusion Currently, ES is not taught in most dental schools in the UK and ROI. Many schools face challenges in finalising the delivery modalities of ES teaching, particularly in clinical environments. Numerous barriers have been identified that complicate embedding this topic in the curriculum. Positively, universities, staff, students and the recently published learning outcomes are driving impactful change across the sector.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Dentistry
Publisher:	Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]
ISSN:	0007-0610
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 November 2024
Date of Acceptance:	2 July 2024
Last Modified:	26 Nov 2024 11:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/173791

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