Extramural oral health educational program involving individuals with disabilities: Impact on dental students’ professionalism

Abstract

A BSTRACT Context: Oral health inequalities experienced by patients, including people with disabilities (PWD), have been related to dentists’ lack of professionalism and inadequate experience in managing patients with special needs. Aims: This study investigated the impact of an extramural program involving PWD on dental students’ professionalism and students’ perception of training in managing patients with special needs. Materials and Methods: A group of 165 undergraduate dental students (year 1 to year 5) participated in a voluntary program, involving 124 visually impaired children, at a special education school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A dedicated module in oral health was developed by specialists in special care dentistry, pedodontics, and medical sciences. Dental students then participated in a semi-structured focus group interview survey to discuss perceptions of their learning experiences. Qualitative data were analyzed via thematic analysis. Results: The program had positive impact on various aspects categorized into four major domains: professional knowledge (e.g., understanding of oral-systemic-social-environmental health interaction and understanding of disability), professional skills (e.g., communication and organizational skills), professional behavior (e.g., empathy and teamwork), and value-added learning (e.g., photography and information technology skills). Students showed improved willingness to manage, and comfort in managing PWD, and expressed support for future educational programs involving this patient cohort. Conclusion: Improved knowledge, skills, attitudes, and personal values, as well as support for future programs, indicate the positive impact of extramural educational activities involving PWD in developing professionalism in patient care, while providing an opportunity for students to be exposed to managing patients with special needs.

The impact of contemplative practice in dental education: A qualitative study in general dentistry

“…The findings in this study were concurrent with the research of Ahmad et al in 2020,[ 23 ] in which interpersonal skills, empathy, and positive attitudes toward special care needs patients were cultivated, and therefore comprehensive and compassionate treatments were promoted. Moreover, the outcomes demonstrated both cognitive and affective domains of empathy, whereas the affective one was predominantly presented in feminine traits, similar to the research of Vonk et al in 2016.…”

Impact of the special care dentistry education on Malaysian students’ attitudes, self‐efficacy and intention to treat people with learning disability

“…34 It was perceived that providing clinical exposure to patients with special needs would have a better impact on students' learning experience in providing holistic care competently, rather than merely teaching them the theoretical aspects of patient care. 35,36 Clinical exposure in SCD could be achieved through rotations in specialist clinics or extramural activities where students experience contacts with patients outside of the dental school facilities. 35,36 Whilst students from University B reported no hands-on clinical training in managing PWLD, they noted having received training in behavioural management (BM) techniques as part of SCD education.…”

“…35,36 Clinical exposure in SCD could be achieved through rotations in specialist clinics or extramural activities where students experience contacts with patients outside of the dental school facilities. 35,36 Whilst students from University B reported no hands-on clinical training in managing PWLD, they noted having received training in behavioural management (BM) techniques as part of SCD education.…”

Dental students’ perception on Disability Equality Training as part of the special care dentistry curriculum

“…Prior to treating their first PWD during their clinical years, students need to understand the issues surrounding this population. Existing literature on SCD mainly covers didactic learning, clinical hands‐on training, and extramural and community engagement activities as part of SCD teaching methodologies to improve students’ confidence and willingness to provide care for PWD in primary care settings 22–24 . Therefore, there is a need to fill the knowledge gap in relation to the implementation of DET in SCD undergraduate curriculum.…”

“…Existing literature on SCD mainly covers didactic learning, clinical hands-on training, and extramural and community engagement activities as part of SCD teaching methodologies to improve students' confidence and willingness to provide care for PWD in primary care settings. [22][23][24] Therefore, there is a need to fill the knowledge gap in relation to the implementation of DET in SCD undergraduate curriculum. As FODUM was the first dental school in the country to introduce DET in the SCD undergraduate curriculum, it was important to evaluate the students' perceptions and acceptance of this program.…”