RESEARCH METHODS AND DESIGN IN DENTISTRY

Catalog description

This course introduces the concepts of the scientific method, and addresses the elements to identify knowledge, its different types, and the importance of Positivism as the basis of the scientific method. Moreover, the students acquire the skills to recognize and understand the different types of research applied to the field of Health Sciences according to the scope of the objectives and the types of research. Finally, this course prepares students to develop critical judgment and questioning capability to reject concepts a priori and universal and absolute concepts. DMCK 705-1 COMMUNITY DENTISTRY: SPECIAL POPULATIONS I 2 CREDITS In this initial Community Dentistry course, students impact individuals from special populations through oral disease prevention and health promotion initiatives. The course combines lectures, with the experiential service -learning opportunity for students, to further their understanding and recognition of the importance of population-based oral health surveillance systems, oral health promotion, and oral disease prevention programs. Students: (1) sensitize with disadvantaged populations in Puerto Rico such as individuals with special needs, geriat ric populations, and other vulnerable populations; (2) recognize existing health disparities; (3) identify social determinants of health and other risk factors associated with oral health conditions of high prevalence; (4) gain proficiency in the application of common oral disease clinical indices. In this course and the subsequent Community Dentistry course (DMCK 705-2), students also gain introductory level experience in developing a research study or community service proposal inspired by their population experiences in the course. DMCK 705-2 COMMUNITY DENTISTRY: SPECIAL POPULATIONS II 2 CREDITS In this second Community Dentistry course students continue their extramural experience where they impact individuals from a special population through oral health prevention and promotion initiatives. The course combines lectures workshops and hand -on trainings with experiential service -learning opportunities for students to further their understanding and recognition of the importance of population -based oral health surveillance systems, oral health promotion and oral disease prevention programs. Students: (1) sensitize with the disadvantaged populations in Puerto Rico such as individuals with special needs, geriatric populations, and other vulnerable populations; (2) recognize existing health disparities; (3) identify social determinants of health and other risk factors associated with oral health conditions of high prevalence; (4) make clinical use of the learned oral disease clinical indices upon clinical evaluation of the population. Students also gain introductory lev el experience in developing a research study or community service proposal inspired by their population experiences in the course.