Education and workforce development

Research to support students and practitioners throughout their careers in the dental team

Our research

Our research encompasses analysis and evaluation of strategies and interventions supporting the development and sustainability of the future dental team. From recruitment into undergraduate study, through undergraduate and postgraduate training and their careers in practice, we work to identify best practice, develop and evaluate interventions, and understand where problems arise and find solutions.
Working with local, national and international partners and stakeholders, we undertake a range of pedagogic, policy and practice focused research projects employing a range of approaches, including systematic and scoping reviews, and qualitative and quantitative empirical research.
We have particular research interests in dental education, workforce planning and development, student and workforce wellbeing, and performance and professional regulation.
Our work is aligned with the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR) , Future ready workforce and our researchers include members of the Collaboration for the Advancement of Medical Education Research (CAMERa) research group.
Dental Students in Phantom Head room in Portland Square.
Dental Students in Phantom Head room in Portland Square.
Dentists looking at xray image 

Current and recent projects

Mills I, Hanks S, Burns L, Bryce M. 'Exploration of barriers, facilitators and enablers influencing recruitment and retention of dentists and the dental team in South West England', Devon Local Dental Committee, September 2022- September 2023 £44,000
Mills I, Hanks S, Burns L, Bryce M. Exploring workforce recruitment and retention challenges in primary care: the experience, motivators and working patterns of Dental Foundation Trainees and Trainers. Health Education England. September 2022- September 2023 £44,000
Coelho C, Hanks S, Jonker C, Kelly A, Leyland R, Powell M, Sobey N. ‘Dental Immersive Reality for healthcare teams: Development of a Mixed Reality training package to help healthcare teams identify common dental issues, to optimise patient care and appropriate referral pathways’. Health Education England Simulation Fund. £29,924.00 September 2022-September 2023
Hanks S, Ranauta A, Coelho C, Danos N, Elango N, (plus students - names TBC) A scoping study to explore Black students’ perceptions from two different dental schools on a career in academic dentistry or dentistry. Internal funding QMUL & UoP £4000. June 2022 – December 2022
Mills I, Hanks S, Burns L, Bryce M. ‘Recruitment and retention in dentistry: developing a research programme.’ February-July 2022. £9,050, University of Plymouth Faculty of Health Strategic Investment Fund.
Hanks S. Health Education England, Education innovation in dentistry: Ensuring an education continuum. Collaboration Plymouth, Liverpool & Newcastle Dental Schools. £15,000 Awarded January 2021
Nasser M, Punt M, Knight J, Drayson H, Denham S, Hanks S. University of Plymouth Arts Health collaboration: Haptic dental simulation models – Enhancing the acquisition of soft skills, sensitivity and anticipation in training clinical dentists. £3908.70 Awarded April 2021
Hanks S. University of Plymouth internal Faculty of Health Award: Student-led Knowledge Exchange Challenge Fund for Digital Health. £10,000 Awarded March 2021
Bryce M, Gale T, Hanks S, O’Brien T, Zahra D. ‘Unlocking the potential of fitness to practise data.’ August 2020-January 2022, £151,711, General Dental Council.
Gale T, Bryce M, Burns L, Hanks S, Zahra D. ‘Review and mapping of basic dental training in EU member states.’ £20,026, General Dental Council, 2019-20.

Publications

Eachempati P, Büchter RB, KS KK, Hanks S, Martin J & Nasser M (2022) 'Developing an integrated multilevel model of uncertainty in health care: a qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis' BMJ Global Health 7, (5) , DOI Open access
Hanks S (2022) 'Professionalism and dental education: in search of a shared understanding' British Dental Journal (BDJ) Open access
Coelho C, Tredwin C, Watson H & Hanks S (2022) 'It is difficult to think about becoming what you have never seen”: Black students perceptions around a career in academic dentistry' British Dental Journal (BDJ) , DOI Open access
Neve H & Hanks S (2022) 'Tangrams: a simple visual tool for communicating the complexities of professionalism' MedEdPublish 12, 2-2 , DOI Open access
Sadura Z, Hanks S, Tredwin C & McColl E (2021) 'The dental therapist's role in a 'shared care' approach to optimise clinical outcomes' BDJ Team 8, (8) 38-42 , DOI
Sadura Z, Hanks S, Tredwin C & McColl E (2021) 'The dental therapist's role in a 'shared care' approach to optimise clinical outcomes' British Dental Journal (BDJ) 231, (2) 104-108 , DOI Open access
Ali K, Hanks S & Cockerill J (2021) 'What is the value of simulated patient assessment in structured clinical examinations of undergraduate students and how should it be used?' European Journal of Dental Education , DOI Open access
Hanks S, Neve H & Gale T (2021) 'Preparing Health Profession Students for Practice in Complex Real World Settings: How Do Educators Respond to a Model of Capability?' International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health and Social Care 9, (1) 50-63 , DOI Open access
Ali K, McColl E, Tredwin C, Hanks S, Coelho C & Witton R (2021) 'Addressing racial inequalities in dental education: decolonising the dental curricula' British Dental Journal 230, (3) 165-169 Publisher Site , DOI Open access
Hanks SJ & Coelho CS (2020) 'Students’ views on the sustained impact of a learning approach developed by blending pedagogy to prepare for professional practice: introducing ‘Daybook’' European Journal of Dental Education , DOI Open access
Hanks S, Neve H, Smith W & Heath M (2020) '“Today’s shook me up a lot inside…it’s definitely changed me”: emotional responses and transformative learning through working with disadvantaged communities' Education for Primary Care , DOI Open access
Hanks S, Cotton D & Spowart L (2020) 'Leadership in Dental Practice: a Three Stage Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis' Journal of Dentistry 103480-103480 , DOI Open access
Carter H, Hanks S & Gale T (2020) 'A qualitative study using hybrid simulation to explore the impacts of human factors e-learning on behaviour change' Advances in Simulation 5, (1) , DOI Open access
Hanks S (2020) 'Leadership and followership in a pandemic - where do you stand?' Journal of the Irish Dental Association 108-111 Publisher Site Open access
Hanks S (2020) 'Taking The Lead' Journal of the Irish Dental Association Publisher Site Open access
Hanks S, Coelho C & Coster R (2018) 'Prepared for practice and equipped for employment: what do dental foundation trainers think of their trainees?' British Dental Journal 225, (6) 549-555 Author Site , DOI Open access
Mills, I., & Neville, P. (2021). COVID-19, Leadership and Gender Equality: Preparing for the Challenges Ahead. Primary Dental Journal, 10(2), 23-27. doi:10.1177/20501684211013265
Trivedy, C., Mills, I., & Dhanoya, O. (2020). The impact of the risk of COVID-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) members of the UK dental profession. British Dental Journal, 228(12), 919-922. doi:10.1038/s41415-020-1781-6
Gale T, Bryce M, Burns L, Hanks S & Zahra D (2021) Review and mapping of basic dental training in EU member states: final report. General Dental Council Publisher Site

Contacts