Presentations 2020: OMFS

425 - Lead by Example – A Twofold Teaching Project for Primary School and University Students

A Fennell-Wells S Mustafa
Presented by: Amarantha Fennell-Wells
Prince Charles Hospital

Introduction: This presentation will describe the symbiotic, twofold value of an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Trauma teaching project delivered by Year 3 Cardiff Medical Students, organised and managed by a Dental Core Trainee. The project had two aims: increase awareness of trauma prevention among local primary school children, and address the “hidden curriculum” within medical training. Methods: An interactive presentation to educate primary school children regarding helmet protection while cycling was produced and delivered by the students. Each session commenced with a questionnaire to assess knowledge and attitudes of the children; the session ended with a subsequent questionnaire to see whether their appreciation for safety had changed. Prior to commencing the project, the medical students were asked to evaluate their knowledge; skills; confidence; understanding of teamworking; teaching primary school children and maxillofacial trauma. The same questions were asked at the end of the project to demonstrate its value. Results: The number of primary school children who said they would wear a helmet when cycling increased by nearly 20% after the presentation. Encouragingly, they were able to give examples of other activities where helmets could be worn for protection. Moreover, the medical students all felt that their knowledge, skills, and confidence had benefitted from this project with regard to teaching, teamwork and maxillofacial trauma. Conclusion: Evidence of engagement by the primary school children illustrated the importance of community education programs concerning trauma prevention. Furthermore, the university students spoke highly of their time at Prince Charles Hospital, and commented upon the excellent organisation of, and breadth of experience gained from, this project. They felt it provided an excellent opportunity to increase their clinical knowledge, and also to develop essential non-clinical skills falling outside of the formal curriculum.
Consent Statement: There are no details on individual patients reported within the abstract.

Poster