Integrating Social Determinants of Health into Dental Curricula: An Interprofessional Approach

Abstract

Approaching patient care from a holistic perspective, incorporating not only the patient's medical and dental history but also psychosocial history, improves patient outcomes. Practitioners should be trained to provide this style of care through inclusive education, including training working on interprofessional teams. A component of this education must incorporate social determinants of health into the treatment plan. Social determinants of health include income, race/ethnicity, education level, work opportunities, living conditions, and access to health care. Education regarding social determinants of health should be woven throughout dental curricula, including hands-on application opportunities. This education must extend to patient care situations rather than be limited to didactic settings. This article explains the need to incorporate social determinants of health into dental education and illustrates how social determinants education is being addressed in two U.S. dental schools' curricula, including how to weave social determinants of health into interprofessional education. These descriptions may serve as a model for curricular innovation and faculty development across the dental education community.

Development, implementation, and early results of a 4‐year interprofessional education curriculum

“…Second‐year dental students participate in a module utilizing a case of a homeless individual with both oral and systemic health needs, specifically designed to address social determinates of health (Table 2); this interprofessional exercise is offered in a hybrid online and in‐person format 9 …”

Contribuições da saúde bucal para o acolhimento em uma Unidade de Saúde da Família

“…Foi encontrada dificuldade na organização do grupo de saúde bucal, os usuários direcionados para o respectivo grupo compreendiam o espaço como atendimento clínico individual e, por vezes, o espaço foi esvaziado. Estudos evidenciam as dificuldades apresentadas pelos cirurgiões-dentistas para atuar com base nos determinantes sociais do processo saúdedoença 18 . Diante da limitação do estudo e da relevância do tema para saúde pública, sugere-se novos estudos que utilizem o acolhimento em saúde bucal como objeto de avaliação.…”

An Adapted Framework for Incorporating the Social Determinants of Health into Predoctoral Dental Curricula

“…2 Closing the Gap in a Generation, the Commission on Social Determinants of Health's landmark report commissioned by WHO, clearly demonstrates the impact that SDH have on populations and their outcomes that can be either health-enhancing or health-damaging. 12 Medical, dental, nursing, and social work students participated in that program. These conditions will only be improved with initiatives that prioritize improvement in the SDH of populations.…”

“…10,11 Recently, Sabato et al provided an innovative case study using Tufts University School of Dental Medicine's interprofessional education program as a vehicle to highlight the importance of SDH as a mechanism to reduce health disparities. 12 Medical, dental, nursing, and social work students participated in that program. Yet inclusion of SDH as a stand-alone object of study, integrated into and woven throughout the curriculum, appears to be a daunting task for many health professions educators.…”