Student perception of pilot interprofessional education and care clinical experiences at dental clinics

摘要

Health education for each profession has been designed in a way that is discipline-specific.1 Dentists and primary care providers (PCPs) possess their own specialized health care fields and have focused on the oral cavity or on the body, respectively. However, clinical studies have suggested that there is a strong relationship between oral disease and systemic conditions.2,3 Systemic conditions affect oral health by modifying host response to bacterial plaque. The oral inflammatory disease may have an impact on systemic health via dissemination of bacterial species, host response factors, or some combination thereof.2 A recent retrospective observational study reported that noninvasive periodontal therapy might improve health outcomes in chronic systemic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cerebral vascular disease.4 Therefore, it is critical to build a framework for collaboration between dentists and PCPs in order to deliver holistic care for patients. Faculty can facilitate this by creating opportunities for professional students to work together via interprofessional education (IPE) to improve their understanding of interprofessional care (IPC).