Raponi JM, Black EW, Rush CC, Childs GS, Blue AV. Dental student perceptions of teamwork during a community-engaged interprofessional learning experience.
Eur J Dent Educ 2023;
27:56-62. [PMID:
35090182 DOI:
10.1111/eje.12776]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Dental professionals have been strong advocates for interprofessional education (IPE). During PFF, students in diverse, interprofessional teams of four are assigned a local volunteer family during their first academic year. Teams conduct four home visits and implement a health improvement project focused on the family's health and well-being. The purpose of our analysis was to examine dental student perspectives on the use of teamwork skills during this unique interprofessional educational experience.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Dental student responses from 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to2019 were qualitatively analysed. Open coding by hand was used to identify keywords and themes. The themes and open codes were compared and contrasted by the researchers until a consensus was reached on themes.
RESULTS
Researchers discerned three meta-themes: value, skills and time. Researchers also found eight sub-themes prevalent in responses: teamwork, adaptability, mutual support, trust, interprofessional communication, time, feedback, coordination and accountability.
DISCUSSION
Our findings indicate dental students understood the importance of interprofessional teamwork and experiential learning within the context of PFF. Students communicated an understanding of how teamwork skills can impact team-oriented outcomes. Dental students seemed to value many teamwork skills that contributed to their interprofessional team's success and experiential learning experience.
CONCLUSION
Engagement in a longitudinal experience that is patient-centred, requiring time outside of the classroom, is valued by dental students for its interprofessional collaborative competency development.
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