Preparing for a child’s first dentist appointment or navigating the overwhelming amount of information about oral health can be challenging. To help clarify these topics, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) has introduced a video series called TuftsTube. This initiative aims to provide clear, reliable answers to frequently asked questions about dental exams and oral care.
Originally designed for the thousands of patients who visit TUSDM’s clinics at One Kneeland Street in Boston, TuftsTube is now accessible online through the YouTube channel of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. Patients and anyone interested in dental care can easily access the informative content. Last fall, QR codes appeared in clinic waiting rooms, offering quick access to these helpful videos.
Nancy Marks, Tisch College’s community service learning coordinator and lead advisor for the project, emphasizes the value of the series. “It promotes real-time dialogue between patients and student providers while utilizing waiting-room time effectively,” she explains. The initiative is also a unique learning opportunity for dental students, helping them refine their communication skills with patients.
The TuftsTube series, launched during the 2023-24 academic year, is led by a team of dental students, including creative director Bryce Pitts, D27; chief editor and writer Maya Abujamra, D27; and several other students in various roles. Pitts describes the project as an enriching part of the dental school experience, bridging classroom knowledge with clinical and community application.
Each video, typically lasting 3 to 4 minutes, is written by the students and reviewed by faculty advisor Kathryn Dolan. The content covers a wide range of topics, from dental exams to teeth whitening, all while using accessible, non-technical language to ensure patients can easily understand the information. The videos also come with subtitles in simplified Chinese and Spanish, with plans for additional languages like Portuguese and Haitian Creole.
One key lesson emphasized in the series is the use of “plain language,” an important communication technique taught to dental students. For example, while dental professionals may use terms like “caries,” they are encouraged to say “cavities” when talking to patients. This approach helps ensure clarity and is particularly useful when working with translators for multilingual audiences.
The videos also reflect best practices for patient interaction, such as the “tell, show, do” method, which prepares patients for procedures both verbally and visually. They also incorporate positive feedback techniques, including the “sandwich method” of communication: offering praise, followed by constructive advice, and concluding with another positive statement.
Beyond promoting effective communication, the videos also aim to enhance patient retention of information. Pitts notes that, often, patients forget key details discussed during appointments, and the videos provide an easy way for them to review the information at their convenience.
TuftsTube not only aims to educate but also to ease the anxiety that some patients may feel about dental appointments. Abujamra shares, “We want to create an approachable and welcoming environment for our patients, helping them feel comfortable during their visits.”
This innovative project is a great example of how dental students are combining academic learning with practical applications to improve patient care and engagement.
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