Environmental sustainability: the attitudes and experiences of UK students in the oral health care profession

Objective This study aims to provide insight into the attitudes and perspectives of undergraduate dental students from UK dental schools regarding environmental sustainability in dentistry (ESD) and the manner and extent in which ESD is included in the current undergraduate oral health care curricula. Methods This study is a multi-centre, nationally representive study involving a cross-sectional online survey of undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Surgery and dental hygiene and therapy students in UK-based dental schools. Data analysis was conducted through descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results In total, 263 students from 13 UK schools completed the survey, resulting in a national school response rate of 68.4%. Key findings are: 97.3% of students believe that the dental profession should be more actively engaged in environmental sustainability but students currently have very little exposure to ESD at an undergraduate level; and 76.8% of students expressed that they are concerned about the impact that oral health care provision has on the environment, but only 23% of students have independently researched ESD. Conclusions Students identify that oral health care professionals should become more engaged in efforts to mitigate the negative impacts from our activities on the environment, principally via education at all levels. The data from this study provide insight into the current level of awareness and concerns for the environmental impacts of oral health care provision, and are a powerful driver for the inclusion of ESD into the undergraduate curriculum in UK based dental schools.