title: The value of inter-professional education: a comparative study of dental technology students' perceptions across four countries.
abstract: The ability to function as an effective member of a dental care team is a highly desirable--frequently mandated--attribute of dental technology (DT) graduates. Currently, there is little rigorous examination of how the learning of team-working skills might best be structured in a DT curriculum. This research compares DT curricula, and students' attitudes and perceptions regarding collaboration in practice, from four countries. Students (n=376) were invited to complete an education profile questionnaire, and the standardised measure--the shared learning scale. There were 196 (52%) responses. Students given opportunities to engage with others had better perceptions of inter-professional learning (IPL). Most believed that team-work and collaborative skills were best acquired by learning together with other dental care professionals, preferably sharing cases for real patients. Curricula should maximise opportunities for dental technology students to experience authentic IPL. Collaboration and team-work needs to be embedded through the whole undergraduate programme.
authors.affiliation: 1] Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Queensland, Australia [2] School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: 1] Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Queensland, Australia [2] Metro South Health Service District, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: 1] Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Queensland, Australia [2] School of Medicine, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Oslo and Akerhaus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haugen
authors.affiliation: Oslo and Akerhaus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Myhrer
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Science, School of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maryan
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Ivanow
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: 1] Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Queensland, Australia [2] School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000193:education*; D055815:Young Adult