The impact of wrong‐site surgery on dental undergraduate teaching: a survey of UK dental schools

Abstract

Introduction: Patient safety within dental education is paramount. Wrong-site surgery (WSS) tooth extraction is not uncommon and is a significant never event (NE) in dentistry. This study aimed to explore dental schools' undergraduate experience of NEs, safety interventions implemented and the impact on student experience. Methods: All 16 UK dental schools were surveyed via email. Results:The response rate was 100%. A modified World Health Organization (WHO) checklist was used within institutions (94%) including pre-operative briefings and recording teeth on whiteboards (81%, respectively). Students were directly supervised performing extractions (63%) utilising a 1:4 staff: student ratio. WSS by students was reported in 69% of schools, with student experience being impacted by an increased patient safety focus. | 671 DARGUE Et Al.

An Educational Evaluation of Thiel Cadavers as a Model for Teaching Suturing Skills to Dental Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Confidence with the use of the instruments was good, but there seemed to be issues relating to the tying of a surgeon’s knot, with 13% finding this aspect of the technique difficult. Students gave positive feedback on the improved staff to student ratio more in keeping with the recommendation for safe practise [ 20 ] and the supportive relaxed environment, which was also commented on by staff, changes brought about by the pandemic. The focus group gave more detailed responses echoing the positive experience of the Thiel cadavers and the positive impact on teaching brought about by the lockdown.…”

Patient Safety Education in the Undergraduate Dental Curriculum: Evidence Base and Current Practice in UK Dental Schools

“…These representatives were selected because of their role as recognized stakeholders in their university undergraduate dental curriculum and documented engagement with the impact of patient safety initiatives in undergraduate teaching. 19 Oral surgery and maxillofacial surgery departments were early adopters of patient safety initiatives as wrong site surgery originally included incorrect tooth extraction as a never event from 2015, and this was the most frequently reported never event relevant to dentistry. An email reminder was sent a month later.…”

“…Although PSE for other healthcare professions can serve as useful models of best practice, dentistry is a unique undergraduate course where students undertake surgery on patients before qualification; thus, we would argue that early implementation of PSE is even more critical for our students. 19 The national survey was representative of all undergraduate dental schools in the United Kingdom, and every question in the survey received "unsure" responses. This lack of clarity on PSE may be due to the respondent's level of involvement in curriculum design and delivery, or more likely the lack of visible PSE within the undergraduate curriculum of the individual school.…”

“…18 Despite this, a recent study of all UK dental schools found an increased emphasis on patient safety as part of undergraduate clinical experience, and this contributed to the creation of a "patient safety culture." 19 Given that 10 years have passed since the previous systematic review of PSE in health professions, 16 our aims were -to review the published evidence for PSE for undergraduate dental students by examining the literature, -to determine the current situation in the United Kingdom and whether PSE is being integrated into the UK undergraduate curriculum, and -to determine what challenges there might be with regard to PSE implementation.…”

“…A PSE group in the United Kingdom has highlighted that published articles about patient safety teaching relate to medical postgraduates in the United States, and there have been no large-scale, long-term evaluations of PSE in the United Kingdom in any healthcare profession 18 . Despite this, a recent study of all UK dental schools found an increased emphasis on patient safety as part of undergraduate clinical experience, and this contributed to the creation of a “patient safety culture.” 19 …”