An interdisciplinary approach to case-based teaching: does it create patient-centered and culturally sensitive...

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Behavioral Science in Dentistry
• Interdisciplinary Healthcare Education

Background:

• Dental education traditionally focuses on technical skills.
• A comprehensive care approach requires understanding patient-specific factors beyond clinical presentation.
• Integrating behavioral science can enhance dental students' holistic patient assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a case-based seminar on dental students' perceptions of diagnostic and treatment planning factors.
• To analyze the effect of an interdisciplinary approach, including behavioral science, in case-based teaching.

Main Methods:

• A case-based comprehensive care seminar was conducted with 204 second-year dental students over two years.
• Students were randomized into groups with or without a behavioral science instructor.
• Self-administered questionnaires assessed the perceived importance of various factors at the beginning and end of the semester.

Main Results:

• The seminar significantly increased students' ratings for subjective oral health factors (e.g., dental fear) and diversity factors (e.g., ethnicity).
• Students in the interdisciplinary section (with behavioral science) rated behavioral and diversity factors as more important than those in the control section.
• This suggests enhanced appreciation for patient-centered and culturally sensitive care.

Conclusions:

• Interdisciplinary, case-based teaching positively influences dental students' understanding of patient complexity.
• Behavioral science integration in dental education promotes a more culturally sensitive and patient-centered approach.
• Curriculum development should consider incorporating such interdisciplinary methods to improve diagnostic and treatment planning skills.