Effects of a one-day shadowing experience on dental students’ attitudes toward ageing and geriatric dentistry: a prospective controlled cohort study

Abstract Background Ageism among healthcare professionals can undermine the quality of care for older adults, particularly those with high support needs in long-term care. Undergraduate dental curricula often provide limited exposure to care-dependent older persons, which may reinforce stereotypes and reduce preparedness. This study investigated whether a brief shadowing experience in a long-term care facility could influence dental students’ attitudes toward older adults. Methods In this prospective controlled cohort study, third-semester dental students (intervention group, IG) completed a one-day shadowing experience, observing a geriatric dentistry specialist during clinical rounds in a long-term care facility. Second-semester students (control group, CG) had no such exposure. All participants completed the 14-item German Geriatric Attitudes Scale (GAS; range 14–70, higher = more positive) at baseline (T0), immediately post-intervention (T1), and at 3-month follow-up (T2). Additional Likert-type items assessed motivation, career alignment, and perceived preparedness. Changes were analysed using t-tests, Wilcoxon tests, and regression models. Results Of 77 consenting students, 63 completed baseline (IG = 29; CG = 34). Baseline GAS scores did not differ between groups (IG: 49.2 ± 4.1; CG: 48.5 ± 7.5; p = 0.640). At T2, GAS scores increased significantly in the IG (mean change = + 1.84 ± 4.29; p = 0.042; Cohen’s d = 0.40), but not in the CG (mean change = + 0.92 ± 4.00; p = 0.250). No effect was observed immediately post-intervention. Further analysis showed that improvements were more pronounced among students who had been less positive at the outset. Conclusions A single day of shadowing in long-term care can produce a modest but measurable improvement in dental students’ attitudes toward older adults, particularly among those with initially less positive views. While such brief experiences alone may not increase career interest in geriatric dentistry, embedding them within longitudinal, mentored curricula could contribute to reducing ageism and better preparing graduates to meet the oral health needs of ageing populations.