Identification of Pediatric Oral Health Core Competencies through Interprofessional Education and Practice

Area of Science:

• Oral health
• Pediatric nursing
• Interprofessional education

Background:

• Formal educational activities between NYU College of Dentistry and NYU College of Nursing aimed to advance interprofessional education.
• Focus on evidence-based practice and strategies to improve oral-systemic health in infants and young children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance curricula for interprofessional education and practice.
• To foster interprofessional socialization among healthcare students.
• To identify core competencies for dental and pediatric primary care providers.

Main Methods:

• Mentoring interprofessional students in collaborative patient assessment, analysis, and care management.
• Incorporating evidence-based scholarly activities and interprofessional practice.
• Conducting clinical practice activities at Head Start programs.

Main Results:

• Faculty identified interprofessional performance and affective oral health core competencies.
• Students demonstrated achievement of these competencies through collaborative practice, case analyses, and presentations.
• Scholarly discussions focused on improving oral health for diverse pediatric populations.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional education is foundational for effective interprofessional practice.
• The program successfully enhanced students' ability to improve pediatric oral health.
• Collaboration between nursing and dental fields is crucial for advancing child oral health.