RESUMO
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: Effective communication, between patient and dentist, is a core clinical skill that commands dedicated pedagogy similar to that of developing scientific knowledge and psychomotor skills. This study aimed to describe active-learning strategies in a dental communication skills course, which sits within a broader foundation dental course and evaluate students' educational outcomes. METHODS: This is a two-phase retrospective, mono-centred study, completed in 2019 at an Australian dental school. Phase I, a case report, describes the Communication Skills for Oral Health (CSOH) course design and its active-learning strategies. Phase II analysed data from the course using Kirkpatrick's evaluation model to objectively measure the impact of the course and provide feedback to education designer. Students' perception (Level 1) was evaluated with an institutional, validated online survey. Descriptive and statistical analysis, included paired tests and Spearman's correlation analyses, used to investigate learning effect (Level 2) and student behaviour change (Level 3). To assess the impact of the CSOH course design (Level 4) the student grades from the course were analysed. RESULTS: The CSOH course encompasses three major topics: Essentials of Communication Skills, Professional-Patient Relationship and Managing Difficult Situations. Each topic included didactic content complimented with a variety of active-learning strategies to teach and assess students. Positive outcomes were recorded across all Kirkpatrick levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests an efficient communication skills course design, which may assist in the development of communication skills courses in other dental education institutions.
Assuntos
Educação em Odontologia , Aprendizagem Baseada em Problemas , Austrália , Comunicação , Odontologia , Humanos , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
The aims of this study were to compare nitric oxide (NO) levels in stimulated whole saliva from individuals with and without generalized chronic periodontitis (GCP), and to evaluate correlations between these levels with a clinical diagnostic parameter. According to specific criteria, 30 individuals were divided into three groups: one comprising individuals without periodontitis (GC), a second comprising individuals with moderate GCP (GM), and a third comprising individuals with advanced GCP (GA). Samples were collected and NO levels measured. NO in the GCP group (GM: 7.78 microM; GA: 15.79 microM) was higher than in the GC group (5.86 microM). NO levels in the GA group were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than in the GC group, and could also differentiate (P < 0.0001) the moderate and advanced forms of the disease. In addition, positive correlations between NO level and the number of teeth with a probing depth of > or = 4 mm (r = 0.54) and > or = 7 mm (r = 0.68) were observed. In conclusion, NO levels are elevated in individuals with GPC and are correlated with a periodontal clinical parameter. These results reveal that this form of periodontal disease and its severity are related to salivary nitrite concentration, indicating that NO may serve as a potential biological marker for detection and/or monitoring of GCP.