Dargue, A., Fyfe, E., French, K. et al. (16 more authors) (2021) The impact of wrong‐site surgery on dental undergraduate teaching: a survey of UK dental schools. European Journal of Dental Education, 25 (4). pp. 670-678. ISSN 1396-5883
Abstract
Introduction
Patient safety within dental education is paramount. Wrong-site surgery (WSS) tooth extraction is not uncommon and is a significant never event (NE) in dentistry. This study aimed to explore dental schools’ undergraduate experience of NEs, safety interventions implemented and the impact on student experience.
Methods
All 16 UK dental schools were surveyed via email.
Results
The response rate was 100%. A modified World Health Organization (WHO) checklist was used within institutions (94%) including pre-operative briefings and recording teeth on whiteboards (81%, respectively). Students were directly supervised performing extractions (63%) utilising a 1:4 staff: student ratio. WSS by students was reported in 69% of schools, with student experience being impacted by an increased patient safety focus.
Discussion
This study demonstrated an increased utilisation of an adapted WHO checklist. Modification of practices to ensure patient safety was demonstrated at all schools, irrespective of student WSS occurrences. Institutions experiencing student NEs commonly implemented WHO checklists and recording teeth for extraction on whiteboards. Other strategies included direct staff supervision and pre-operative briefings.
Conclusion
UK dental schools have increased the emphasis on patient safety by the implementation of national healthcare models, for example WHO checklists and pre-operative briefings. These strategies both aim to improve communication and teamwork. Increased levels of staff supervision foster greater quality of teaching; however, this has resulted in reduced student clinical experience. A proposed minimum standard for undergraduate surgery is suggested to ensure safe and competent dental practitioners of the future.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an author-produced version of a paper subsequently published in European Journal of Dental Education. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | never event; oral surgery; patient safety; undergraduate; WHO checklist; wrong-site surgery |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Clinical Dentistry (Sheffield) The University of Sheffield > Sheffield Teaching Hospitals |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 28 Jun 2022 16:02 |
Last Modified: | 28 Jun 2022 16:02 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/eje.12645 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:188393 |