An Instrument to Assess Dental Students' Competence in Shared Decision Making: A Pilot Study

Evidence suggests that involving patients in health care decisions has a positive impact on health care outcomes and patients' perception of quality. However, the extent to which dental students are trained in communication and shared decision making (SDM) differs, and studies have identified a need for intensified learning and assessment of this competence. A need to more clearly define and operationalize what it means to be proficient in this area has been identified. The aim of this study was to operationalize communicative and relational skills in a comprehensive assessment instrument for SDM. Relevant skills in information exchange, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building were identified through an extensive review of previous research and instruments for assessing communication competence. Indicators for assessing these skills were formulated. The instrument was submitted to a pilot test in 2016 and evaluated on test content, internal structure, and response processes. The Assessment of Shared Decision Making (ASDM) instrument consists of 18 items addressing various aspects of the construct and three types of skills. Findings suggest that the ASDM represents a valid measure of SDM with three major components. The importance of developing the ASDM lies both in the summative assessment of students' communication with patients and for formative assessment purposes. Once identified, the components essential for SDM can be woven into the curriculum and shared with students. Thus, the ASDM provides a structure that can meet the need for intensified learning and assessment of dental students' competence in communication and SDM.

"I'll never forget this": evaluating a pilot workshop in effective communication for dental students

This study evaluated a pilot workshop for teaching communication skills to dental students. The methodology is based on an experiential learning approach, the use of realistic clinical scenarios, simulated patients, and an integrated teaching team of both educational researchers and dentists. Furthermore, the methodology was adapted for short workshops, which is thought to offer better possibilities for frequent and effective training of communication skills throughout the curriculum. The work-shop was piloted with groups of six to ten students from the sixth and tenth semesters (n=94). Results show that the majority of students found the tasks meaningful and well aligned with how they perceived their future profession as dentists. Most students also thought that they learned from the task. An interesting finding is that students not only found it instructive to practice how to communicate in authentic situations, but that they generally found the workshop to be thought-provoking while at the same time providing structure and intellectual tools for the future. A possible explanation for this finding is the sharing of explicit criteria for high-quality communication.

The structure of observed learning outcome (SOLO) taxonomy: a model to promote dental students' learning

Selective memorising of isolated facts or reproducing what is thought to be required - the surface approach to learning - is not the desired outcome for a dental student or a dentist in practice. The preferred outcome is a deep approach as defined by an intention to seek understanding, develop expertise and relate information and knowledge into a coherent whole. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the structure of observed learning outcome (SOLO) taxonomy could be used as a model to assist and promote the dental students to develop a deep approach to learning assessed as learning outcomes in a summative assessment. Thirty-two students, participating in course eight in 2007 at the Faculty of Odontology at Malmö University, were introduced to the SOLO taxonomy and constituted the test group. The control group consisted of 35 students participating in course eight in 2006. The effect of the introduction was measured by evaluating responses to a question in the summative assessment by using the SOLO taxonomy. The evaluators consisted of two teachers who performed the assessment of learning outcomes independently and separately on the coded material. The SOLO taxonomy as a model for learning was found to improve the quality of learning. Compared to the control group significantly more strings and structured relations between these strings were present in the test group after the SOLO taxonomy had been introduced (P < 0.01, one tailed test for both results). The SOLO taxonomy is recommended as a model for promoting and developing a deeper approach to learning in dentistry.