Developing a Dental Scrubs Ceremony to define professional identity and teach professionalism to dental undergraduates; lessons learned

Abstract

Introduction The UK General Dental Council stipulates that professionalism is a key aspect of the teaching and training of dental students. However, dental educators highlight that teaching dental student's professionalism can be challenging and students often rate this teaching activity negatively. This article documents a teaching initiative at one UK Dental School that aimed to strengthen the professionalism curriculum by introducing a Dental Scrubs Ceremony for second‐year students. Materials and method The Dental Scrubs Ceremony is inspired by the White Coat Ceremonies that medical students have in universities in North America. It marks the students’ first step in their professional and clinical development, with the signing of a pledge of conduct and public presentation of dental scrubs to each student. We report student feedback questionnaire data over a three‐year period together with reflections on the merits and limitations of this alternative approach to teaching professionalism. Results Student evaluation data show that the perceived usefulness and worthwhileness of a Dental Scrubs Ceremony have grown since its inception in 2015. Most students enjoyed the symbolism of the ceremony, receiving their dental scrubs in a formal event. However, there was mixed evaluation for its effectiveness to teach professionalism. Conclusion A Dental Scrubs Ceremony is a useful addition to the formal curriculum of professionalism in a dental school. It provides dental students with an opportunity to be inducted into the dental profession as novice dental students starting out on their professional career.

Student perceptions of the white coat ceremony in a pharmacy program in Australia

“…A large proportion of respondents saw the ceremony as a way of welcoming new students to the profession. Recently the Bristol Dental School reported similar results with the introduction of a Dental Scrubs Ceremony, inspired by the WCC in the US. That study revealed that the dental students appreciated the inherent symbolism in the ceremony and found it to be worthwhile .…”

“…Recently the Bristol Dental School reported similar results with the introduction of a Dental Scrubs Ceremony, inspired by the WCC in the US. That study revealed that the dental students appreciated the inherent symbolism in the ceremony and found it to be worthwhile . In a study of medical students, Brown et al .…”

“…The scale used was named PIRATE (professional identity rating), with participants indicating their level of professional identity on a scale of 1–10, with 1 representing the lowest sense of professional identity and 10 the highest. Initiatives such as the WCC are reported to contribute to student professional identity, so this question was included in order to be able to compare students’ sense of professional identity in each of the year levels.…”

“…That study revealed that the dental students appreciated the inherent symbolism in the ceremony and found it to be worthwhile. 11 In a study of medical students, Brown et al 15 found that a WCC, held during the students' first week in the course, provided an opportunity to create a culture where professionalism is valued and encourages students to reflect upon the health professional they will become.…”

Relationship between emotional intelligence and professionalism among second‐year dental students

“…An emphasis on quota requirements that rely on the completion of a specific number of dental procedures to demonstrate competence detracts from the qualitative development of professionalism 19 . The traditional white coat ceremonies, which facilitate the induction of the professional values and virtues, 20 and experiences like the donor letter program, which share letters from the families of the deceased with the dental students, help to instill empathy in future dental professionals 21 . However, both methods focus on a cognitive and top‐down approach that is disconnected with behaviors or a bottom‐up approach.…”