Simulation of medical emergencies in dental practice: development and evaluation of an undergraduate training programme

Abstract

Background:The evidence available suggests that many dentists on graduation do not feel competent managing medical emergencies; a problem requiring improved undergraduate training. This study developed a comprehensive simulation based training programme for final year undergraduate dental students and assessed student attitudes towards training. Methods: Final year dental students (n = 52) from The University of Melbourne were required to complete simulation training incorporating an interactive tutorial and realistic, simulated emergency scenarios conducted in the students' real clinical environment. A post-participation questionnaire utilizing a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree) assessed student attitudes. Results: Student responses supported simulation training, evidenced by the following selected questionnaire responses: achieved greater confidence in managing emergencies 4.65 ± 0.48 (n = 52); prefer lecture to simulation 1.46 ± 0.74 (n = 52); simulation training is important in undergraduate teaching 4.86 ± 0.35 (n = 43). Conclusions: Realistic simulation training in management of medical emergencies for dental students is an effective adjunct to traditional lecture style teaching. Given the importance of this subject, this mode of training would benefit students if incorporated into undergraduate dental courses.

High‐fidelity simulation in training dental students for medical life‐threatening emergency

“…However, as it has been shown with other health professionals, training on high-fidelity simulator is an excellent complement to theoretical training but does not replace it. 25,26 In conclusion, high-fidelity training improves the technical and non-technical skills of dental students for the management of medical emergencies in a dental office. It should therefore be systematically introduced in their curricula.…”

An Emergency Simulation Course in a Postdoctoral General Dentistry Program: The New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine Experience

“…After Jarabak's article published in 1968, 20 Tan and Brooks-Buza et al described the use of human patient simulators in emergency training in pediatric advanced dental education, 21,22 and Newby et al and Tanzawa et al described simulation emergency training in predoctoral dental education. 23,24 These studies used student or resident questionnaires to assess educational utility and reported student responses in support of simulation training in emergency management education. Kalsi et al's survey study of emergency simulation training for oral and maxillofacial surgery residents found improvements in personal limitations, recognition of critical illness, communication, assessing acutely ill patients, initiating treatment, and BLS skills.…”

Assessment of a group of Nigerian dental students′ education on medical emergencies

“…[526] An earlier study done on the final year dental students toward the development and evaluation of their undergraduate training program reported that realistic simulation training in management of medical emergencies for dental students is an effective adjunct to traditional lecture style teaching. [10] Simulation training was reported to improve the ability to manage medical emergencies. [27] Another study also reported that the more advanced the simulation is the better management of medical emergencies.…”

“…[46789] Many of the dentists on graduation have been reported not to feel competent managing medical emergencies[10] and a comprehensive simulation based training program for final year dental students has been advocated. [10] There is a tendency for some dental schools to concentrate on theoretical training while not paying attention to the practical aspect. This lack of uniformity in the dental student's training on medical emergency has also been reported.…”