Dental Care Professionals

Aim of the Programme:

The programme aims to provide high-quality learning opportunities and experiences so that students who attain the PDA in Delivering Oral Health Interventions are safe to practise as an Oral Health Educator.

 Expected Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the programme, the candidate should be able to:

1. Explain the aetiology, progression and methods of prevention of dental diseases.
2. Explain the necessary nutritional components and how nutrition and diet affect oral health.
3. Evaluate the range of information that can be used to inform the delivery of oral health education.
4. Plan, deliver and evaluate oral health education sessions provided to a range of individuals.
5. Explain the stages required in the planning and development of health promotion.
6. Analyse the key factors that affect oral health and the role of dental public health in delivering local and National oral health initiatives.
7. Apply relevant theories and models to support and effect behaviour change through the implementation and evaluation of an oral health intervention.

This programme has 9 study days. All study days for this programme will be delivered online. Attendance at all study days is mandatory.

Candidates are provided with guidance and instructions to access online study days, which will consist of teaching, assessment, and portfolio work. Deadlines for submitting assessments will be provided throughout the programme.

To enable candidates to participate in all aspects of this programme and assessments, they will require:

• A laptop or computer with a webcam and microphone
• Access to the internet, with a broadband connection
• Access to Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft Word
• A quiet area without interruptions to concentrate on studies, for example:attendance to online study days and completion of assessments

Candidates will be required to successfully complete the programme’s assessment to be awarded the Professional Development Award (PDA) in Delivering Oral Health Interventions.

This qualification consists of two Higher National Units:

• Oral Health Promotion and Dental Public Health.
• Oral Health Education

Candidates must meet the assessment requirements of both units to be awarded the PDA in Delivering Oral Health Interventions. The assessments for these units are detailed below:

Written Report

The candidate will produce a 2000-word report evaluating the effectiveness of a 1 previous and 1 current local or national initiative or policy in contributing to the improvement of oral health and reducing health inequalities

Session Plans/Log sheets

The candidate will deliver 10 oral health interventions to a mixture of individuals and groups. Individuals must be seen for 2 visits. Groups for 1 visit.

For each intervention, the candidate will complete a session plan and a log sheet.

Log sheet criteria:

A minimum of one each from the following individuals:

• Child
• Adolescent
• Adult

A minimum of one from each of the following categories:

• Adults: Pregnant/nursing mothers, parents of pre-school/school children, elderly
• Professional groups; for example: nurses, health visitors, healthcare workers, social workers, teachers, teaching support staff
• Children
• Patients who require special care provision

Situations

• 1:1
• A minimum of 1 small group (3-8 people)
• A minimum of 1 large group session (9+ people)

To cover a minimum of 5 of the following topics:

• Prevention of caries
• Prevention and control of periodontal disease
• Prevention of further non carious tooth surface loss
• Care of removable prostheses
• Care of orthodontic appliances
• Oral disease conditions that affect the oral cavity
• Maintenance of oral health associated with advanced restorative care (implants)

All logs must be signed by a GDC supervising registrant, who is a dentist, therapist, hygienist, or a dental nurse with an oral health qualification.

Observations

A supervising registrant and a Dental Nurse assessor will observe the candidate’s delivery of 2 oral health interventions, one each from the following:

• Individual (adult, child or adolescent)
• Small or Large group session

A session plan must be included if the patient is not one of your log sheet cases.

Written Assessment

The candidate will complete a closed-book written assessment on outcomes 1 and 2 of the H5WV 35 oral health education unit, consisting of multiple-choice questions, short-answer and extended-answer questions. The pass mark is 65%.

Case Study

The candidate will produce a 2500-word case study relating to an oral health improvement intervention, including behavioural change. The scope for the case study includes smoking, alcohol or nutrition. The candidate will be required to coach and support an individual through the process of behaviour change. 

Assessments have been created in line with the Qualification Scotland unit specification.

 https://www.sqa.org.uk/files/hn/H5WV35.pdf and https://www.sqa.org.uk/files/hn/H5WT35.pdf

Inclusive education is an approach that recognises and values diversity, allowing the diverse learning needs and preferences of individual candidates to be identified and addressed at the earliest opportunity.

We aim to deliver education and training in a way that is inclusive of all candidates, ensuring every candidate has a positive learning experience and outcome.

Public Service Delivery Scotland will actively identify and, where possible, remove barriers and make reasonable adjustments to learning and assessments.

The charge for this course is £220.00, plus the current Qualifications Scotland registration fee of £26.00.  

To apply to undertake the programme, applicants must:

1. Have current registration with the GDC.
2. Be working as a dental nurse in a dental setting and can access the range of patients, to access the relevant practical experience to meet the assessment requirements of this qualification.
3. Be able to attend every study day and complete all requirements of this qualification within the duration of the programme.
4. Have the support of their workplace to undertake this qualification.