Teaching dental undergraduates behaviour change skills

Abstract

This paper describes an active learning-based education tool which enables dental students to learn preventive techniques relevant to patient dental health behaviour. 2 studies were conducted involving 33, 2nd year (study 1) and 9, 3rd year (study 2) undergraduate dental students. In study 1, snacking behaviour and its antecedents were analysed from detailed 3-day diet diaries completed by the students. Study 2 entailed the students changing one aspect of their sugar/diet behaviour using self-management techniques. It is concluded that dental students can successfully (a) identify antecedents to sugar snacking behaviours on several levels, i.e., cognitive, emotional and situational, (b) set goals and use behaviour change techniques to modify these behaviours, and (c) appreciate that this experience is relevant to similar preventive techniques that they will use in clinical practice. Training in the application of these skills to their own maladaptive behaviours provides a strong educational tool based on psycho-educational theories.

Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing Training for Primary Care Dentists and Dental Health Technicians: Results from a Community Clinical Trial

“…Thus, the indings of this somewhat unprecedented study indicate that PHC professionals can achieve signiicant improvement in their MI skills in talking with mothers of young children about a behavioral change related to early childhood caries, just as found in other studies with positive and promising results through the use of MI. In countries such as England and the U.S., the teaching of MI in dentistry and in training auxiliary professionals has been successful: short MI training courses were applied to students to change their own behavior, 24 to apply to their clinic patients for behaviors they deemed necessary, 25 and to quit smoking. The University of Missouri in the U.S. includes MI in the OHT curriculum, and a qualitative study with graduates of that course found that MI training increased their communication skills and the acceptance rate of their patients for their proposed treatments.…”

“…23 The graduates recommended inclusion of this content in all training courses in the dental area. In countries such as England and the U.S., the teaching of MI in dentistry and in training auxiliary professionals has been successful: short MI training courses were applied to students to change their own behavior, 24 to apply to their clinic patients for behaviors they deemed necessary, 25 and to quit smoking. 26 MI training has been studied for other professional categories.…”

Report on the development of a new dental curriculum at Helsinki

“…Training in interpersonal skills introduces the student to the role of the dentist and allows early patient contacts. It provides an excellent forum for practising behaviour change skills (14), without being anxious of failing in the manual skills. Interpersonal skills add up to 11.3 ECTS credits in 5 years, equalling 40 contact hours per year.…”

The behavioural and social sciences as hidden curriculum in UK dental education: A qualitative study

“…By endorsing the clinical, social and behavioural aspects of dentistry will we ensure that dental students develop into holistic, patient-centred practitioners, equipped with effective and sympathetic patient management skills. 27,28…”