Improving Student Dentist Competencies and Perception of Difficulty in Delivering Care to Children with Developmental Disabilities Using a Virtual Patient Module

Abstract

An interactive, multimedia, virtual patient module was designed and developed on compact disc (CD-ROM) to address the need for student dentists to increase their competence and decrease their perception of difficulty in caring for children with developmental disabilities. A development team consisting of pediatric dentistry faculty members, parents of children with developmental disabilities, an individual with a developmental disability, and educational specialists developed an interactive virtual patient case. The case involved a ten-year-old child with Down syndrome presenting with a painful tooth. Student dentists were required to make decisions regarding proper interactions with the child, as well as appropriate clinical procedures throughout the case. Differences in perceived difficulty level and knowledge change were measured, as well as the student dentists' overall satisfaction with the learning experience. Significant results were obtained in both perceived difficulty level and knowledge-based measures for student dentists. Participants reported overall satisfaction with the modules. Preparing student dentists to provide sensitive and competent care for children with developmental disabilities is a critical need within dentistry. This study demonstrated that an interactive, multimedia (CD-ROM), virtual patient learning module for student dentists is potentially an effective tool in meeting this need.

Descriptive study of the patients treated at the clinic integrated dentistry for patients with special needs at Complutense University of Madrid (2003-2012)

“…With all these things under consideration, we can conclude that much remains to be done in preparing general dentist in special care dentistry ( 30 ).…”

Dental Students’ Knowledge of Oral Health for Persons with Special Needs: A Pilot Study

“…Educational tools such as an informational DVD used in the present study are one of the ways in which the dental and medical fields can collaborate in the attempt to ensure persons with SHCN are receiving necessary oral health care. Virtual patient module with interactive multimedia which communicates and targets the need for dental student to decrease their perception of difficulty in caring for children with disabilities and to increase their competence is potentially an effective tool in meeting this need [ 28 ]. Also, in the present study, students indicated that the following would improve their ability to provide oral health care for persons with SHCN: further training, further education having equipment or products designed for persons with SHCN, continuing education related to oral health care for persons with SHCN, curriculum modification, and clinical case presentations.…”

Virtual patients: a critical literature review and proposed next steps

“…Several studies have compared use of a VP to no intervention. Eight of these showed significant differences favouring the VP intervention, including six studies looking at knowledge outcomes 15–20 and two looking at skills assessed through live patient encounters 21 or self‐report 22 . Four studies found results favouring the VP that did not reach statistical significance 23–26 .…”

“…Some VPs have been used to develop a core fund of conceptual knowledge – an understanding of basic principles that undergird the practice of medicine 15,17–20,29,30 . Although VPs are clearly successful in achieving this objective, we wonder if other methods might be more economical, yet equally effective.…”