Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Students, Medical , Humans , Medical Oncology , Neoplasms/therapy , Patient Care TeamABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To develop and test training to improve practitioners' confidence and perceived understanding when communicating cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk using novel tools and metrics. METHODS: A CVD risk communication training workshop was developed through interviews with patients and practitioners delivering Health Checks, a literature review, NICE guidance and the UK Health Check competency framework. It was pilot-tested with practitioners delivering Health Checks in the UK. Perceived practitioner understanding and confidence were measured before and up to 10 weeks after the workshop, and changes were compared with those in a control group (who received no intervention). Perceived impact was also explored through semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: Sixty-two practitioners (34 intervention, 28 control) took part. Perceived practitioner understanding (p = .030) and perceived patient understanding (p = .007) improved significantly for those delivering Health Checks in the training group compared with controls. Practitioner confidence also improved significantly more in practitioners who attended the training (p = .001). Findings were supported by interviews with a sub-sample of practitioners (n = 13). CONCLUSION: The training workshop improved practitioners' confidence and perceived understanding of CVD risk in Health Checks. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The training is an important step to improving practitioner understanding of CVD risk in Health Checks and should be implemented on a wider scale.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Communication , Inservice Training , Patient Education as Topic , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Physician-Patient Relations , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , State Medicine , United KingdomABSTRACT
There are various motivators that prompt people to study dentistry but there is evidence that the salience of each varies according to gender and black and minority ethnic (BME) group. Given the current focus on inequality within the science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics (STEMM) academic disciplines where dentistry sits, it is important to understand the relevance of different motivators to different social groups if inequality is to be overcome. We carried out a survey of dental students from 11 out of the 18 dental schools in the UK to find out what prompted them to study dentistry. Our findings showed that most people make a personal choice to study dentistry and follow a patient-focused career while the prospect of an academic career was important for less than half of our sample. Differences according to gender and BME group were apparent but did not follow these trends. In order to continue to improve the diversity within dental academia dental schools should consider the different preferences of the workforce and work to broaden its potential.
