Student‐driven partnerships enhancing oral health literacy

Abstract

This brief report documents teaching practice that has facilitated deeper connections between Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) students at The University of Adelaide and community support agencies to promoteincreased health literacyand confidence to seek care amongst marginalised populations. Theaim was to increase the capacityofmarginalised groups "to access, understand, appraise and apply information to make effective decisions about health and health care" (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Hlth Lit; 2014. Available from: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/nsqhs-standards/partnering-consumers-standard/health-literacy. Accessed January 21, 2020). Thehealthpromotioncurriculum in the BOH course at The University ofAdelaideencouragesstudents to focus onhealth literacy, equity andpartnershipsin the development ofseveral small targeted health promotion programs. Studentsco-create,implementand evaluatethese programs,engagingcommunity groups, supportive partnersandindustry stakeholdersina range ofuniqueways. Sustainable relationships have been established and are growing with partner organisations. As these relationships strengthen, so too does the trust, creative licence, innovation and promotion of the students' involvement directly or indirectly with community. That leads to more frequent touch points with community and greater community buy-in. As familiarity increases, so too does community health literacy and confidence to enter oral health care pathways. Strategically planned activity outside of dental setting has the potential to draw community members and dental service providers together, with the enhancement of health literacy and access amongst at-risk populations, an important by-product. SO WHAT?: There seems great potential for further benefits to be realised by oral health students and members of the public when there is multi-stakeholder involvement in co-created health promotion initiatives, that see students further engage with community outside clinical environments.