Sheba D Mani1, Nicole Lee Ping Chen2, Velayudhan Menon3, Muneer Gohar Babar4. 1. Department of Language, Communication and Culture, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2. Department of Psychology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 4. Children and Community Oral Health Division, School of Dentistry, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Medical schools have reported on the integration of humanities, through literature, which offer diverse content and approaches that can be used to enhance patient care. The integration of humanities in dental education is a recent development. At the International Medical University (IMU) Malaysia, a literature module which focused on perspective taking activities was offered to the Bachelor of Dentistry program. We aimed to study if the module impacted dental students' understanding of patient care. METHODS: Third-year undergraduate dental students were facilitated to discuss stories, engage in perspective taking activities and keep a portfolio for assessment in the Stories and Perspectives selective. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data in their portfolios. RESULTS: The dental students identified key learning points that would better prepare them for patient-centered care. Three themes emerged: (1) facilitate empathy in students, (2) stimulate self-awareness in students, and (3) motivate students to be perceptive communicators. Students were able to appreciate the complexities of care giving as it involved taking into account the thoughts and feelings of the other while recognizing their own mental state. They further valued the choice of appropriate words and actions in mediating this process. CONCLUSION: The potential for incorporating humanities based approaches to teach patient care to dental students is favorable. Reading stories and extending this to perspective taking activities to induce creative ways to shift between experiences of self and other is a positive approach in preparing health professionals for care giving encounters.
INTRODUCTION: Medical schools have reported on the integration of humanities, through literature, which offer diverse content and approaches that can be used to enhance patient care. The integration of humanities in dental education is a recent development. At the International Medical University (IMU) Malaysia, a literature module which focused on perspective taking activities was offered to the Bachelor of Dentistry program. We aimed to study if the module impacted dental students' understanding of patient care. METHODS: Third-year undergraduate dental students were facilitated to discuss stories, engage in perspective taking activities and keep a portfolio for assessment in the Stories and Perspectives selective. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data in their portfolios. RESULTS: The dental students identified key learning points that would better prepare them for patient-centered care. Three themes emerged: (1) facilitate empathy in students, (2) stimulate self-awareness in students, and (3) motivate students to be perceptive communicators. Students were able to appreciate the complexities of care giving as it involved taking into account the thoughts and feelings of the other while recognizing their own mental state. They further valued the choice of appropriate words and actions in mediating this process. CONCLUSION: The potential for incorporating humanities based approaches to teach patient care to dental students is favorable. Reading stories and extending this to perspective taking activities to induce creative ways to shift between experiences of self and other is a positive approach in preparing health professionals for care giving encounters.