Hamdard introduces second-year BDS students to supervised patient care

KARACHI: Second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students at Hamdard University and Dental Hospital have taken an early step into clinical practice through a supervised Oral Diagnosis activity designed to introduce them to patient assessment, professional conduct and infection-control standards.

Organised by the Department of Community Dentistry, the activity gave students an opportunity to examine real patients under the supervision of faculty members and House Officers, moving them beyond classroom-based learning and into a controlled clinical environment.

Each student was required to follow the basic sequence of patient assessment, beginning with informed consent and history-taking before proceeding to an intraoral examination. Maintaining confidentiality, communicating respectfully and observing professional boundaries were treated as integral parts of the exercise rather than separate ethical requirements.

Dr. Shikoh Naz, Associate Professor, Department of Community Dentistry, guided and mentored the students throughout the activity. He placed particular emphasis on respectful communication, ethical conduct, informed consent and protection of patient information, encouraging students to approach every patient with dignity and compassion.

The exercise was intended to help students understand that effective diagnosis depends on more than recognising clinical signs. Listening to the patient, obtaining relevant medical and dental history, explaining the examination process and maintaining trust are all part of the diagnostic encounter.

Infection prevention was also built into the training. Students were instructed to follow appropriate sterilisation and hygiene protocols while examining patients, reinforcing the importance of protecting both patients and healthcare workers during routine clinical procedures.

The Department of Community Dentistry said the activity formed part of a broader institutional focus on maintaining safe clinical standards.

Professor Dr. Syed Imran, Principal, regularly visits departments to monitor cleanliness, hygiene and overall clinical practices, while Dr. Saima Asim, Vice Principal, also contributes to oversight of these standards across the institution.

For second-year students, the session represented an early introduction to the responsibilities that accompany direct patient contact. While technical skills remain central to dental training, the activity also highlighted the importance of communication, confidentiality, empathy and infection control in building patient trust.

By exposing students to supervised patient assessment at an early stage, Hamdard University and Dental Hospital sought to help them connect theoretical knowledge with real clinical situations before they assume more advanced responsibilities later in their BDS training.

The initiative also reinforced a broader lesson for future dentists: diagnosis begins not only with examining the mouth, but with understanding the patient, respecting their rights and creating a safe environment in which clinical care can take place.