title: Integrating issues of substance abuse and addiction into the predoctoral dental curriculum.
abstract: Methodological discussions about the teaching of substance abuse and addiction in predoctoral dental curricula typically fall short. This article explores the pedagogy employed to present and discuss the relevance of addiction (mostly to illicit drugs) to the dental profession in the first-year predoctoral dental curriculum at the University of British Columbia. These pedagogical approaches are multifaceted and include a role-play scenario with a standardized patient; an interactive guest lecture-based seminar and a community panel of personal testimonials; students' written reflections; and the provision of clinical care to patients with a past or current history of addiction. Students' reflections illustrate the impact of these approaches upon their views of addiction and the dental profession. This pedagogy exposes students to alternative views on substance abuse and addiction, challenges their values and beliefs, and fosters dialogue.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Sciences, University of British Columbia, JBM 122, 2199 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3. brondani@dentistry.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Mario A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brondani
authors.forename: Komkham
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pattanaporn
mesh_terms: D001955:British Columbia; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011363:Professional Impairment; D012381:Role Playing; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: addiction; curriculum; dental education; pedagogy; professional behavior; reflections; substance abuse