Introduction of Prenatal Oral Health into Medical Students’ Obstetrics Training

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the Prenatal Oral Health Program (pOHP) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on medical students’ oral health‐related knowledge, confidence, attitudes, and dental referral practices. Specifically, the study sought to determine these students’ ability to screen, counsel, and refer their patients to a dental home and their overall knowledge regarding the safety of dental treatment for pregnant patients. The study used a pre‐ and post‐intervention survey design with intervention and control groups. Third‐year medical students enrolled in an obstetrics and gynecology clerkship were surveyed between 2012 and 2014. The questionnaire assessed students’ confidence and behaviors related to prenatal oral health counseling, screening, referral to a dental home, and knowledge about treatment safety during pregnancy. Intervention and control groups were determined by clerkship site. The intervention consisted of a 50‐minute seminar on prenatal oral health principles, referral guidelines, and clinical systems changes. A total of 53 intervention and 32 control group students participated (57.4% response rate). The two groups were not significantly different at baseline in age, gender, having children, and residency goals. The results showed that the pOHP positively and significantly influenced students in the intervention group on all clinical constructs except their knowledge about treatment safety during pregnancy. Clinically examining a woman's mouth for signs of dental disease resulted in greater likelihood of making referrals by 26.5 times. These findings suggest that implementing prenatal oral health in a multi‐method manner can effectively promote interdisciplinary coordinated care, meet interprofessional education accreditation standards, and aid in implementing practice guidelines in medical school curricula.

Pregnant women’s perspectives on integrating preventive oral health in prenatal care

“…Research evidence supports the need for and value of, interprofessional education for both dental and nondental providers in achieving integrated care [30]. Another study [27] confirmed the positive impact of predoctoral oral health training on medical students' behaviors, confidence, and attitudes related to prenatal oral health care. In addition, a previous study [31] confirmed that interprofessional education increased access to care for children in their study.…”

“…While some women supported the administration of brief oral examinations by prenatal providers, others posited that only oral health providers should conduct oral examinations-even if simple and basic. Such views go against research reports providing evidence that with proper training non-dental providers are capable of conducting brief oral examinations [25][26][27].…”

Pregnant Women's Perspectives on Integrating Preventive Oral Health in Prenatal Care.

“…Research evidence supports the need for and value of, interprofessional education for both dental and nondental providers in achieving integrated care [30]. Another study [27] con rmed the positive impact of pre-doctoral oral health training on medical students' behaviors, con dence, and attitudes related to prenatal oral health care. In addition, a previous study [31] con rmed that interprofessional education increased access to care for children in their study.…”

“…While some women supported the administration of brief oral examinations by prenatal providers, others posited that only oral health providers should conduct oral examinations-even if simple and basic. Such views go against research reports providing evidence that with proper training non-dental providers are capable of conducting brief oral examinations [25][26][27].…”

Development of a Dental School Strategic Plan to Inform Interprofessional Education

“…Some IPE activities were taking place at the SOD, but they were based primarily on individual faculty initiatives. For example, an ongoing Prenatal Oral Health Program involves collaboration between the SOD's dental students and the School of Medicine's medical students and obstetrics residents, in which medical providers learn about the importance of oral health, especially during pregnancy, and how to refer their patients without a dental home to the dental school for needed care 14 . The prior dean initiated a faculty competition for curriculum innovation pilot funds that required collaboration with at least one other health professions school.…”