Dental and Maxillofacial Trauma Skills Content in the Southeast Asian Dental Curricula: A Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aims to review contents related to dental maxillofacial trauma (DMT) in the dental curricula of Southeast Asian (SEA) countries and assess their effectiveness in equipping future dental professionals with the necessary skills for the efficient management of DMT. Additionally, the study aims to describe how the academics involved in the planning and organization of these curricula envision the incorporation of DMT within dental education.

METHODS: The study employed a mixed methods approach composed of two phases. Phase 1 involved a review of all printed documentation to explore the DMT curricula, including details such as the country, subject, year of study, coverage, time spent on the subject, assessment types and various training themes (e.g., management, surgical, prevention). In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted with academics responsible for curriculum development in each school to identify how they envisaged the incorporation of DMT into the curricula.

RESULTS: Regarding curricular contents, the dataset comprised a total of 31 subjects concerning DMT contents. Findings revealed variability in the coverage of trauma education across institutions, a lack of practical training and the need for better integration and collaboration among different dental specialties. The narrative highlighted concerns about the insufficient hands-on practice available for training in managing DMT, suggesting that students may not have enough opportunities for practical experience in this area. This deficit could potentially impact their ability to effectively manage trauma cases in a clinical setting.

CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights into the current state of dental trauma education in SEA countries, identifying critical areas for improvement and potential strategies for enhancing curriculum effectiveness. It emphasizes the importance of integrating practical training and collaborative learning to better equip future dental professionals for trauma management, thereby addressing significant challenges faced by dental educators and practitioners in SEA.