IADR Abstract Archives
Challenging the Conventional Curriculum: An Inter-Professional Undergraduate Dental Programme
Objectives: To explore student attitudes towards inter-professional education, and their experience of shared learning.
Methods: Dental Therapy and Hygiene (DTH) students from the final year of a 3-year programme participated in a pilot questionnaire study at the end of the academic year.
Results: Information gathered from the pilot study has shown that students’ attitudes towards elements of the programme which are integrated with the Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS) programme are overwhelmingly positive. Making friendships and networks that will extend into professional practice, all being ‘in the same boat’, and the opportunity to learn from one another were all areas of importance and value identified by students. Learning about each other’s professional perspective, and supporting one another were identified as areas of particular success, and are considered in relation to the emphasis on teamworking in dental education. This study is currently being developed into a longitudinal project which aims to explore both BDS and DTH students, and staff, perceptions and attitudes towards inter-professional education, and their experience of shared learning.
Conclusions: There is heavy emphasis on teamwork within the healthcare sector, yet inter-professional education is not consistently utilised across dental education. We believe the Peninsula Dental School approach develops excellent teamwork and communication skills, preparing our clinicians for careers within the dental team and profession; aspirations supported by, and which can be developed in light of, the current data. To our knowledge, this is the only inter-professional dental programme in the UK. Our curriculum, designed to promote inter-professional skills in environments true to the actualities of practice has been extremely well received by students. Exploring these perceptions further through the development of a comprehensive longitudinal research project will assist in exploring further the barriers (and benefits) to shared care in such programmes.
Methods: Dental Therapy and Hygiene (DTH) students from the final year of a 3-year programme participated in a pilot questionnaire study at the end of the academic year.
Results: Information gathered from the pilot study has shown that students’ attitudes towards elements of the programme which are integrated with the Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS) programme are overwhelmingly positive. Making friendships and networks that will extend into professional practice, all being ‘in the same boat’, and the opportunity to learn from one another were all areas of importance and value identified by students. Learning about each other’s professional perspective, and supporting one another were identified as areas of particular success, and are considered in relation to the emphasis on teamworking in dental education. This study is currently being developed into a longitudinal project which aims to explore both BDS and DTH students, and staff, perceptions and attitudes towards inter-professional education, and their experience of shared learning.
Conclusions: There is heavy emphasis on teamwork within the healthcare sector, yet inter-professional education is not consistently utilised across dental education. We believe the Peninsula Dental School approach develops excellent teamwork and communication skills, preparing our clinicians for careers within the dental team and profession; aspirations supported by, and which can be developed in light of, the current data. To our knowledge, this is the only inter-professional dental programme in the UK. Our curriculum, designed to promote inter-professional skills in environments true to the actualities of practice has been extremely well received by students. Exploring these perceptions further through the development of a comprehensive longitudinal research project will assist in exploring further the barriers (and benefits) to shared care in such programmes.