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Prof. Dr Mário Rui Araújo talks about the role of iTOP at universities.
The programme was implemented in 2019 in the University of Portalegre.
Dental hygiene is an undergraduate degree in Portugal and we have, at least in Portalegre, a high level of biofilm control teaching. We take a scientific approach, but also an integrative one, bringing together communication, psychology and dentistry. The goal: to help patients take care of their dental biofilm. We pursue the same goals as iTOP – a perfect match, so to speak.
Yes, definitely. The dental school in Lisbon has already used the iTOP programme at the master’s level in dental hygiene education. Other dental schools are also starting to offer some iTOP sessions for their students, for example in Coimbra, Porto or Viseu.
It’s much more than a practical approach. iTOP, to me, is a laboratory for oral health education. We mix science, evidence-based and practical inputs into the same pot. It’s a great educational experience. If it were just about practice, anyone could do it. We believe that practical interventions need to be based on a strong evidence base, which exists for the iTOP programme. This mix of experience and science is just terrific.
Portuguese dental hygienists are prepared to act as specialists in the diagnosis of oral diseases. They are also prepared to control and maintain oral health. They are specialists in behaviour management and also in biofilm control.
Therefore, iTOP offers a continuing education course where they can discuss, share and improve their skills. Dentists are more prepared for a technical approach. Sometimes they miss this behavioural area of oral health. iTOP helps them understand how important it is for their success and the health of patients to work with a team of professionals.
Prof. Dr Mário Rui Araújo is an experienced dental hygienist and oral health specialist with a PhD in Psychology from the University of Lisbon, and a Master’s degree in Health Psychology.
As a researcher and educator, his focus lies in behavioural change, and particularly the role of self-regulatory processes in the oral health of patients. He is an Adjunctive Professor and Director of the Dental Hygiene Program at Portalegre Health School in Portugal and lives in Caldas da Rainha with his wife, four children and three cats.
