Effects of a curriculum change on dental student attitudes

Abstract

This study compared student attitudes before and after the change from a four- to a five-year D.M.D. program at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Three instruments were used to collect data from eight successive classes, the last four enrolled in the original program (classes of 1979-1982) and the first four enrolled in the new program (classes of 1984-1987). Overall participation rate was 89 percent. The scales were: (1) the Survey of Interpersonal Values (SIV); (2) a bipolar adjective checklist, The Job of Dentistry, which reveals views of the profession, and (3) Career Plans. The same set of scales was administered for a second time, upon graduation, to the classes of 1980-1982. Only two changes were noted between first and second administrations for these three classes: at graduation, the job of dentistry was viewed as more sales-oriented and more physical. Comparing the two programs, students in the new (five-year) program scored significantly higher on leadership in the Survey of Interpersonal Values. Five-year students viewed the job of dentistry as significantly more changing, complicated, unusual, intellectual, scientific, interesting, and involving more public speaking, and their career plans tended to be more academically oriented.