Supporting your professional competencies
As evidence and clinical practice is always changing, continuous professional development is important. The oral cancer learning hub supports you in five of the six domains of the Australian Dental Council (ADC) professional competencies for dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral health therapists and dental prosthetists. These competencies support the Dental Board of Australia’s scope of practice registration standard and guidelines.
Two scientific CPD points can be recorded for reading the content in this learning hub.
“An important aspect in the early detection of oral cancer is the ability for oral health professionals to recognise early signs of cancerous lesions and identify people who are most at risk.”
Competencies
Domain 2. Communication and leadership
Competency statement
- Communicate and engage with patients, patient’s families and communities in relation to oral health
- Present clear information in a timely manner that ensures patients are advised of and understand care and treatment options to be provided
- Communicate with other health professionals involved in patients’ care
- Understand the importance of intra and interprofessional approaches to health care
How the learning hub can support you
- How to have informed and effective conversations about lifestyle risk factors with patients
- How to explain oral cancer risk assessment and referral to patients
- Encourages a team-based approach and appropriate referral
Domain 3. Critical thinking
Competency statements
- Locate and evaluate evidence in a critical and scientific manner to support oral health care
- Apply clinical reasoning and judgement in a reflective practice approach to oral health care
How the learning hub can support you
- Providing up-to-date evidence about oral cancer risk factors, prevention and early detection
Domain 4. Health promotion
Competency statements
- Understand the determinants of health, risk factors and behaviours that influence health
- Understand the theories and principles of health promotion
- Understand health promotion strategies to promote oral and general health
How the learning hub can support you
- Providing evidence-based information on oral cancer risk factors and underlying causes, including social determinants of health, high-risk groups and preventative behaviours so you can support patients
Domain 5. Scientific and clinical knowledge
Competency statements
- Understand the biomedical, physical and behavioural sciences in relation to oral health and disease
- Understand the theories and principles of population oral health
- Understand the principles of risk management and quality improvement
How the learning hub can support you
- Explaining the biomedical mechanisms behind key oral cancer risk factors
- Providing evidence-based information on oral cancer risk factors and underlying causes, including social determinants of health, high risk groups and preventative behaviours
- Enhancing your ability to identify and screen higher risk patients
Domain 6. Patient care
6.1 Clinical information gathering
Competency statements
- Obtain and record a relevant history of the patient’s medical, social and oral health status
- Perform an examination for health, disease and abnormalities of the dentition, mouth and associated structures
- Evaluate individual patient risk factors for oral disease
- Maintain accurate, consistent, legible and contemporaneous records of patient management and protect patient privacy
How the learning hub can support you
- Providing guidance on oral cancer risk assessment, examination, risk factors and record keeping
6.2 Diagnosis and management planning
Competency statements
- Recognise health as it relates to the individual
- Diagnose disease or abnormalities of the dentition, mouth and associated structures and identify conditions which require management
- Determine the impact of risk factors, systemic disease and medications on oral health and treatment planning
- Formulate and record a comprehensive, patient-centred, evidence-based oral health treatment plan
- Determine when and how to refer patients to the appropriate health professional
How the learning hub can support you
- Providing guidance on oral cancer risk assessment, examination and referral pathways
- Supports patient-centred care
6.3 Clinical treatment and evaluation
Competency statements
- Apply the principles of disease and trauma prevention and early intervention in the management of the dentition, mouth and associated structures
- Manage oral conditions, pathology and medically related disorders and diseases associated with the dentition, mouth and associated structures
How the learning hub can support you
- Providing guidance on oral cancer risk assessment and oral mucosal examination
- To identify and describe a comprehensive range of malignant and non-malignant lesions
- To make timely and appropriate referrals