Assessment of a Novel Module for Training Dental Students in Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting

Abstract

This study assessed the merits of introducing a novel, online interactive training module designed to positively engage dental students and teach them to recognize and report signs of child abuse and neglect. The study aimed to determine if the online training module educated the students equivalently or better than a lecture presentation of the same content. Seventy-two students from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine's class of 2015 (90 percent of the class) agreed to participate and were randomly assigned to either a traditional lecture-based presentation or the online training module. Study participants were given a twenty-question multiple-choice pretest on their knowledge of child abuse recognition and reporting prior to the start of the study. The same instrument was administered as a posttest. At the end of the training, questionnaires were also given to both groups to assess students' perceptions of the two educational methodologies. The results showed that the interactive online training module was more effective than the lecture-based method. Results of the posttest comparison of the two groups were statistically signiicant (p<0.05) in favor of the online training group. Additionally, the students reported that the interactive online training module was engaging and a helpful resource, but on average they did not prefer it as a total replacement for the lecturebased approach.Mr.

Non-accidental injury for medical students – is case-based e-learning effective?

“…It was found that students' scores improved, both overall and in the areas of recognition and management of NAI, after the use of the e-learning module. Although no literature could be found on e-learning in this field specific to students, the results of this study are consistent with others based on clinicians and dental students, that showed elearning to be effective in improving management, detection and general knowledge of NAI (Smeekens et al, 2011;McEvoy et al, 2011;Shapiro, Anderson and Lal, 2014;Al-Dabaan, Asimakopoulou and Newton, 2015). They are also consistent with Dorsey et al's study (although based on child sexual abuse) showing that an e-learning package was effective in teaching medical students (Dorsey et al, 1996).…”

“…A variety of educational methods and tools have been studied in the field of NAI. Case-based learning, which involves applying knowledge and skills to clinical scenarios, has found to be effective in improving recognition and management in clinicians and dental students (Shapiro, Anderson and Lal, 2014;Anderst and Dowd, 2010;Tiyyagura et al, 2015). Possible reasons for this are that it creates context behind injuries and helps users look at preconceived ideas (Anderst and Dowd, 2010).…”

“…However, there is no similar literature available on medical students. E-learning was shown in one study to be effective in improving medical students' knowledge of child sexual abuse (Dorsey et al, 1996) and another in teaching dental students about NAI (Shapiro, Anderson and Lal, 2014).…”

Digital Education of Health Professionals on the Management of Domestic Violence: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by the Digital Health Education Collaboration

“…All the 6 included RCTs were published between 2000 and 2014 in high-income countries: 5 were from the United States [43,46-49] and 1 was from the Netherlands [50]. All the studies included were parallel RCTs.…”

Conocimientos y actitudes sobre maltrato infantil en alumnado del grado de Odontología

“…6,7 La principal razón referida por los propios profesionales es la carencia de una formación académica universitaria que prepare al estudiante para el diagnóstico de esta situación. 4,8,9 Por tanto, es fundamental que los estudiantes de odontología reciban una adecuada formación sobre este tema para poder aumentar el número de casos denunciados por ellos en su futura práctica profesional. 6,8,10 El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar como la formación en atención odontológica pediátrica que actualmente se imparte en el Departamento de Odontología influye en los conocimientos y las actitudes de los estudiantes de grado respecto al MI y en su disposición a la denuncia de sospecha si se diera el caso.…”