Unit information: Year 1 BDS in 2021/22

Unit name	Year 1 BDS
Unit code	ORDS10019
Credit points	120
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Mrs. Liz Gaze
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Bristol Dental School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

Description

Year 1 BDS provides the early education and training within a curriculum based on the student dentist as a Person and Citizen, a Scientist and Scholar, a Practitioner, and a Professional and Agent of change. These major themes comprise ‘helical’ themes, with fundamental active and experiential learning in Year 1 which will seamlessly extend throughout the five year programme to allow progression towards achieving the requisite learning outcomes necessary to become a registered dentist.

Initially a 10-week Foundations of Dentistry course will provide an introduction to student life and study at University. Course content will include study skills teaching; introductory biomedical sciences teaching essential for later activities within the Year and programme; fundamentals of communication, ethics and teamworking; and introduction to clinics and observational assisting. Foundations of Dentistry will conclude with a conference where students present a topic of particular interest to them.

The remainder of the unit will focus on the Student Dentist as a Practitioner with learning on 11 through structured clinical topics, each of these supported by appropriate biomedical and social sciences teaching, and with opportunities for interprofessional learning and teamwork with students training to be dental hygienists and therapists.

In Year 1 there will be strong focus on wellbeing and study skills, as part of the initial delivery of ‘Student Dentist as Person and Citizen’ helical themes. Project work and early focus on evidence-based dentistry will contribute, with biomedical sciences teaching, to ‘Scholar and Scientist’ themes, and professionalism and accountability emphasised alongside opportunities for teamwork with peers and with hygiene and therapist students, within ‘Professional and Agent of Change’ helical themes.

Aims

1. To welcome the student as a valued member of the Bristol Dental School community
2. To develop the student as an adult learner and inspire them in the study of dentistry
3. To ensure a thorough understanding of the basic underlying scientific principles of the form and function of the human body with particular focus on the head and neck
4. To encourage students to view health, illness and health care within social, cultural and ethical contexts
5. To provide opportunities for students to become familiar with, and safe within, the clinical environment
6. To introduce the student to the NHS healthcare environment and dental healthcare teams
7. To initiate training in communication skills and use of dental terminology
8. To start developing students’ professional behaviour and understanding of the duty of candour
9. To train and certify the student in basic life support
10. To support students in beginning to deal with the complexity, uncertainty and change inherent in dental practice

Intended Learning Outcomes

Year 1 initiates delivery of the following GDC Preparing for Practice (2015) learning outcomes (LOs) (to be continued in subsequent years of the programme).

A. Knowledge and Understanding

1. OVERARCHING OUTCOME - Recognise the role and responsibility of being a registrant and demonstrate professionalism through their education, training and practice in accordance with GDC guidance
2. OVERARCHING OUTCOME - Recognise the importance of lifelong learning and apply it to practice
3. CLINICAL - Individual patient care - GDC LOs 1.1.5, 1.1.8, 1.1.10
4. CLINICAL - Patient Management - GDC LOs 1.7.9
5. CLINICAL - Health promotion and disease prevention - GDC LOs 1.10.1
6. CLINICAL - Hard and soft tissue disease - GDC LOs 1.12.1
7. CLINICAL - Population-based health and care - GDC LOs 2.1
8. COMMUNICATION - Patients, their representatives and the public - GDC LOs 3.2
9. PROFESSIONALISM - Ethical and legal - GDC LOs 7.4
10. PROFESSIONALISM - Teamwork - GDC LOs 8.3

B. Intellectual skills and attributes

OVERARCHING OUTCOMES

1. OVERARCHING OUTCOME - Describe the principles of good research, how to access research and interpret it for use as part of an evidence-based approach to practice
2. OVERARCHING OUTCOME - Apply an evidence-based approach to learning, practice, clinical judgment and decision making and utilise critical thinking and problem solving skills
3. OVERARCHING OUTCOME - Accurately assess their own capabilities and limitations, demonstrating reflective practice, in the interest of high quality patient care and act within these boundaries
4. CLINICAL - Individual patient care - GDC LOs 1.1.1-2

C. Other skills and attributes (practical/professional/transferable)

1. OVERARCHING OUTCOME - Practise safely and effectively, making the high quality long term care of patients the first concern
2. CLINICAL - Individual patient care - GDC LOs 1.1.3-4, 1.1.6-9, 1.1.13
3. CLINICAL - Comprehensive patient assessment - GDC LOs 1.2.1-2, 1.2.5-6
4. CLINICAL - Treatment planning - GDC LOs 1.5.3-4
5. CLINICAL - Patient management - GDC LOs 1.7.1-2, 1.7.4
6. CLINICAL - Patient and public safety - GDC LOs 1.8.1-7
7. CLINICAL - Health promotion and disease prevention - GDC LOs 1.10.2-4, 1.10.7
8. CLINICAL - Management and treatment of periodontal disease - GDC LOs 1.11.1
9. CLINICAL - Management of the developing and developed dentition – GDC LOs 1.13.1, 1.13.3
10. COMMUNICATION - Patients, their representatives and the public - GDC LOs 3.1--4
11. COMMUNICATION - Team and the wider healthcare environment - GDC LOs 4.1, 4.3-4
12. COMMUNICATION - Generic communication skills - GDC LOs 5.1, 5.3-5
13. PROFESSIONALISM - Patients and the public - GDC LOs 6.2-5
14. PROFESSIONALISM - Ethical and legal - GDC LOs 7.1-3, 7.5
15. PROFESSIONALISM - Teamwork - GDC LOs 8.1-2
16. PROFESSIONALISM - Development of self and others – GDC LOs 9.1-4, 9.6-7
17. MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP - Managing self - GDC LOs 10.1-3, 10.6-8
18. MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP - Managing and working with others - GDC LOs 11.1-3, 11.5, 11.7-9
19. MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP - Managing the clinical and working environment - GDC LOs 12.1-2, 12.5

Year 1 initiates delivery of Bristol Skills Framework learning outcomes and attributes (to be continued in subsequent years of the programme)

Teaching Information

The teaching and learning methods to be adopted in Year 1 reflect the aim of developing students as adult learners, whilst recognising that this takes time to develop. From day one, students should feel they are preparing to become a dentist. They should learn to study with support of their peers, mentors and lecturers. Practical procedures and learning with students from the full dental team are all highly valued.

The teaching methods used are:

• Lecture-style content, and use of the 'flipped' classroom
• Peer group work
• Private study time, supported by library and electronic learning
• Electronic learning packages (supporting teaching, self-directed learning and formative assessment)
• Practical teaching: laboratory, anatomy, clinical skills
• Clinical environments; clinical biosciences
• Access to dentists, scientists, researchers, allied health professionals and community health teams

Students will be pre-allocated to act as patients for a variety of their peers during the course of these sessions. This teaching approach enables students to develop the necessary skills and attitudes required for treating the diverse range of patients that will be encountered during the programme and within the wider population. Using peers as patients effectively supports the development of practical and patient management skills required for the transition to first patient care, and is underpinned by a range of General Dental Council Learning Outcomes within the domains of clinical care, communication, professionalism, and management and leadership (see 'Intended Learning Outcomes' above). Procedures where students will be required to act as patients include: history taking, examination of the head and neck, examination of the oral cavity (including the charting of teeth and periodontium), recording plaque indices, oral health advice, removal of dental deposits (as appropriate), suction practice, impression taking, and the delivery of local anaesthesia. This teaching approach will be fully supported by a process of informed consent, and an appropriate level of supervision by clinical teaching staff.

Assessment Information

Summative assessments

An integrated, programmatic assessment delivered at the end of Year 1, comprising three parts, covering a wide range of ILOs across themes, are a test of application of knowledge derived from all the Year 1 learning opportunities.

The End of Year 1 Summative Assessments will be taken as a first attempt in May/June and, if required, as a second attempt (resit) in July.

Part 1) Multiple Short Answer (MSA):

• 2 hours
• Contributes 40% of the total unit mark.

Part 2) Single Best Answer (SBA) e-Assessment:

• 2 hours
• Contributes 40% of the total unit mark.

Part 3) Objective Structured Practical (OSPE)/Spotter:

• 1 hour
• Contributes 20% of the total unit mark.

Students will be required to achieve a minimum aggregate score of 50% between Parts 1 and 2 in order to pass the Unit. Compensation will be allowed between Parts 1 and 2, providing a minimum score of 45% in either Part is achieved.

There is no compensation permitted with Part 3.

Formative assessments & engagement milestones

Students must satisfy all engagement requirements and successfully complete all 'must pass' assessments, as set out in the student progression requirements for Year 1 in the BDS Assessment Handbook.

Satisfactory and appropriate engagement with the programme will be determined by the Progress Committee which will normally meet termly. The committee will monitor engagement against the engagement and progression criteria, review performance in formative and 'must pass' assessments and monitor levels of professionalism.

A student who has not demonstrated satisfactory and appropriate engagement with the programme, nor reached a satisfactory level of professionalism (as determined by level of engagement and any other evidence relating to professionalism presented to the Progress Committee) will not be permitted to sit the End of Year 1 Summative Assessments and thus will not be able be progress to Year 2.

In accordance with University regulations, students will be permitted two attempts at summative assessments in Year 1 BDS21. Dependent on extenuating circumstances, a student may be permitted a second attempt at Year 1 or otherwise will be required to withdraw from the programme.

Progression to Year 2

In order to progress to Year 2 of the BDS programme students must pass the End of Year 1 assessments at first or second (resit) attempt as determined by the Board of Examiners. The pass marks for the End of Year 1 assessments (Parts 1-2) will be determined by a formal standard setting process. The pass mark for Part 3 (which is criterion marked) will be set at 50%.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ORDS10019).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.