First aid skills training in dentistry course

an experience report in a curricular discipline

Abstract

Introduction: The National Curriculum Guidelines (DCNs) for Dentistry programs emphasize the importance of integrating practical competencies into professional training, including preparation for life-threatening situations. In this context, first aid training becomes essential in the education of future dentists, as it promotes the development of skills required to act effectively in urgent and emergency situations. Objective: To report the experience of implementing a curricular discipline focused on first aid training, aimed at developing practical skills among undergraduate dental students. Experience Report: This is a descriptive study, structured as an experience report, concerning the discipline Training in Skills I (TH I), developed with undergraduate dental students at a private higher education institution in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The discipline was conducted using active learning methodologies, integrating theoretical and practical classes, simulations using mannequins, realistic simulation scenarios of medical emergencies, educational workshops for institutional staff, and performance assessment through the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Final Considerations: The experience demonstrated that the use of active learning methodologies in first aid education promotes the development of technical, behavioral, and decision-making competencies, in addition to increasing students’ confidence and autonomy. The discipline contributed to a more integrated educational process aligned with the DCNs, reinforcing student protagonism and highlighting the importance of early inclusion of emergency training in undergraduate dental education.