| CODE | DNS2210 | |||||||||
| TITLE | An Introduction to Dependencies for Dental Professionals | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Dental Surgery | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit introduces an overview on the adverse health effects of tobacco use and other dependencies, and the role of the dental team in their prevention. It will discuss smoking prevalence and its impact on the Health care system, the use of evidence-based good practices that serve to educate patients on the chronic and debilitating effects of smoking on one鈥檚 quality of life. The study-unit will also expose the students to the fundamental concepts of dependency, providing a comprehensive understanding of their nature, causes, and effects in the oral cavity. Students will understand the chronic nature of dependence, how to promote and encourage cessation and ensure the application of the appropriate approaches and techniques towards cessation.They will critically assess how understanding dependencies may influence patient care, early intervention and treatment planning. They will discuss the ethical, medical and social responsibilities as healthcare providers for a holistic healthcare approach. Study-Unit Aims: - Define addiction and dependency; - Assist students with understanding the factors contributing to addiction and dependencies; - Introduce the different types of dependencies, including substance misuse, substance abuse and behavioural dependencies; - Discuss the role of the dental healthcare professionals in the prevention and management of dependencies within the different sectors of our society; - Recognize the oral effects of substance abuse and behavioural dependencies; - Update students on any emerging, addictive products; - Discuss the policies within the WHO, EU, and local legislation and strategies, in tobacco control and illegal substances; - Establish brief smoking cessation intervention as a daily standard of practice for all; - Develop confidence in the student鈥檚 ability in helping patients to quit tobacco practices, through theory and clinical practice. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Understand the complex behavioural issues related to smoking and other dependencies, and their impact on individuals and society; - Evaluate a smoker鈥檚 situation and provide information on cessation; - Understand the proper clinical skills used in advising and encouraging smoking cessation; - Understand the alternatives methods for cessation, including the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapies for smoking cessation; - Understand the marketing techniques employed by the Tobacco Industry; - Understand the International and National legislation on Tobacco Control; - Understand the local and international policies on addressing alcohol abuse, drug use, harm reduction and/or stopping substance abuse. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply patient-centered smoking cessation strategies and techniques in daily practice; - Describe the different resources available in aid of people on a dependency; - Acquire and exhibit the appropriate clinical based skills to influence a positive behavioral change; - Show leadership and become a role model for other professional organizations and society at large; - Advocate and add their voice to national and global tobacco control efforts; - Optimizing and implementing different smoking cessation strategies; - Discuss policies and legislations on tobacco control and other substances such as alcohol and drugs; - Identify the tendencies of dependencies according to demographics; - Identify medical complications, and dental signs and complications; - Discuss the role of the dental team in dependencies. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Beck, A. T., Wright, F. D., Newman, C. F., &Liese, B. S. (2011). Cognitive therapy of substance abuse. Guilford Press. - WHO Reports. - EU Reports and Legislative Documents. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | |||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Maria Luisa Gainza-Cirauqui Joanna Basic Eleonor Borg Anne Buttigieg Angelika Biernacka Buttigieg Stefan Buttigieg Ian Diacono Leon David Madden Gabriel Mansueto Daniel Mercieca Bernard Schembri Emma Louise Schembri Victoria Spagnol Nicholas Triganza |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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