Jian, W Lee
| Jian, W Lee |
Jian, W Lee1, Erin Cashman2, Alina O'Brien1, Maria Velasco1, Rick Guidotti3, Steven Perlman4
1Pediatric Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine; 2School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; 3Positive Exposure; 4Boston University
Introduction
The Commission on Dental Accreditation requires dental students be taught how to care for patients with Special Health Care Needs (SHCN). Dental graduates, however, report feeling ill-prepared to undertake the treatment of patients with SHCN. Inclan et al. found that all faculty from 10 dental schools received their experience in treating patients with SHCN during their residency training. In 2020, 52% of dental students participated in the ADA, National Match suggesting that over 40% of graduates do not seek out further training and rely on continuing education to supplement their learning. From those 40%, only the ones who have an interest in the SHCN population would seek out opportunities to further their own training in the care of these patients. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate whether we can promote empathy for patients with SHCN in dental students and thus create an interest in seeking further training.
Methods
Seventy-one third-year students at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine completed a survey to assess their baseline thoughts on interacting with and treating persons with SHCN. This survey was an adapted version of the Dental Students’ Attitudes Towards the Handicapped Scale. Three videos from the Faces Redefining the Art of Medical Education library were shown one week later. The students then repeated the survey.
Results
Data collection is complete, and results are pending data analysis.
Conclusion
Results will be used to determine if the intervention increased empathy for patients with SHCN in dental students.