Encouraging intrinsic motivation in the clinical setting: teachers' perspectives from the self-determination theory.

INTRODUCTION: Self-determination theory postulates that the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness have to be satisfied for students to achieve intrinsic motivation and internalisation of autonomous self-regulation towards academic activities. Consequently, the influence of the clinical teaching environment becomes crucial when satisfying these needs, particularly when promoting or diminishing students' intrinsic motivation. The aim of this study was to describe and understand how clinical teachers encourage intrinsic motivation in undergraduate dental students based on the three basic psychological needs described by the self-determination theory. METHODS: A qualitative case study approach was adopted, and data were collected through semistructured interviews with nine experienced undergraduate clinical teachers of one dental school in Santiago, Chile. Interview transcripts were analysed by two independent reviewers using a general inductive approach. FINDINGS: Several themes emerged outlining teaching strategies and behaviours. These themes included the control of external motivators; gradual transference of responsibility; identification and encouragement of personal interests; timely and constructive feedback; delivery of a vicarious learning experience; teamwork, team discussion, and presence of a safe environment, amongst others. Overall, teachers stressed the relevance of empowering, supporting and building a horizontal relationship with students. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings regarding dental education expand on the research outcomes from other health professions about how teachers may support students to internalise behaviours. An autonomy-supportive environment may lead students to value and engage in academic activities and eventually foster the use of an autonomy-supportive style to motivate their patients.

Dental laboratory work authorization forms: a national survey of regulatory agency requirements.

This study reports a survey of the dental licensing agencies in the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico concerning agency legislation and nomenclature of dental laboratory work orders. Differences in both legislation and nomenclature were found. Dental laboratory work authorization was the title most frequently used by the agencies. Nearly all agencies require a work order written by a licensed dentist to accompany all materials transmitted to a dental laboratory. This along with other sources of information may help to increase uniformity in the content of laboratory work authorization forms, thereby improving quality control in dental restorations made in commercial laboratories.

[Neuron-neuroglia functional relation in the squid giant nerve fiber]. / Relaciones functionales neurona-neuroglia en la fibra nerviosa gigante del calamar.

The present work reviews the results of a series of physiological studies carried out in the giant nerve fiber of the tropical squid Sepioteuthis sepioidea, aimed at exploring the possible involvement of different second mediators and receptor systems, in the modulation of the long-lasting hyperpolarizing response of the Schwann cell membrane potential to axonal excitation. These studies provide experimental evidence on the existence of distinct receptors for ACh, octopamine, and a VIP-like endogenous peptide in the Schwann cell plasma membrane. They also indicate that the cyclic nucleotide adenosine 3',5' monophosphate may be playing a role as second messenger for the actions of the Schwann cell nicotinic cholinergic and the octopaminergic receptors, whereas the VIP receptor may be acting through the hydrolysis of polyphosphatidylinositols. These experimental findings are discussed as evidence for the existence of a complex multistep interaction between the giant axon and its satellite glial cells, the Schwann cell.

Relaciones functionales neurona-neuroglia en la fibra nerviosa gigante del calamar. / [Neuron-neuroglia functional relation in the squid giant nerve fiber]

The present work reviews the results of a series of physiological studies carried out in the giant nerve fiber of the tropical squid Sepioteuthis sepioidea, aimed at exploring the possible involvement of different second mediators and receptor systems, in the modulation of the long-lasting hyperpolarizing response of the Schwann cell membrane potential to axonal excitation. These studies provide experimental evidence on the existence of distinct receptors for ACh, octopamine, and a VIP-like endogenous peptide in the Schwann cell plasma membrane. They also indicate that the cyclic nucleotide adenosine 3,5 monophosphate may be playing a role as second messenger for the actions of the Schwann cell nicotinic cholinergic and the octopaminergic receptors, whereas the VIP receptor may be acting through the hydrolysis of polyphosphatidylinositols. These experimental findings are discussed as evidence for the existence of a complex multistep interaction between the giant axon and its satellite glial cells, the Schwann cell.

Modulation of the membrane potential of the Schwann cell of the squid giant nerve fiber.

1. The involvement of second messengers and of other chemical mediators, in the modulation of the membrane potential of the Schwann cell of the giant nerve fiber of the Tropical squid Sepioteuthis sepioidea is described. 2. The involvement of the cyclic nucleotide adenosine 3', 5' monophosphate (cAMP) in mediating the actions of the nicotinic Ach receptors of the Schwann cells is suggested. 3. The presence of octopaminergic receptors in the Schwann cells, mediating their actions through the activation of adenylate cyclase, is also described. 3. Receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) are also present on the Schwann cells, and their actions are mediated via a second messenger system that does not involve the activation of adenylate cyclase. 5. The three independent receptor systems referred above are able to interact in a complex way, which involves both their direct actions on the Schwann cell membrane potential and modulatory effects between the systems.