title: Reflections on learning and enhancing communication skills through community engagement: a student perspective.
abstract: Students in Peninsula School of Dentistry (PSD), Plymouth, undertake community engagement projects during the first two years of their undergraduate curriculum. These projects involve interaction with a variety of specific community groups and the planning and delivery of an appropriate and meaningful oral health intervention. Many of the project outcomes are based on enhancing communication skills and encouraging students to transfer these into their patient treatment sessions. This report draws on the experience of students who undertook two specific projects to demonstrate how they feel this is achieved.
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University School of Dentistry, Peninsula Dental School, John Bull Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BU.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanks
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University School of Dentistry, Peninsula Dental School, John Bull Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BU.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marples
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University School of Dentistry, Peninsula Dental School, John Bull Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BU.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wall
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D013335:Students, Dental