Module 4: GPS in Action
Welcome to Module 4. Now it’s time to put everything into practice. In this session, you’ll apply the full GPS approach to a real patient case, building on the Motivational Interviewing techniques from Module 3. Rather than focusing only on conversation skills, you’ll guide a patient through the entire process — from goal setting to action — helping them take meaningful steps toward better oral health. To bring this to life, you’ll practice through role-play. Using the patient scenarios provided in this module, along with the GPS template and MI techniques, you’ll step into real-world situations and refine your approach. Let’s get started!
Module Content
Knowledge Boost – Video lecture, GPS in Action
Hands-On Activity – Role Plays
Video lecture: GPS In Action
Hands-on Activity – Role Plays Instructions
Set up the role play
Now it’s time to build on your previous role play experience and what you have learned in Module 4. Below, you’ll find three role play cards featuring realistic patient scenarios. Choose one and invite a colleague or friend to play the role of the patient.
Prepare Your Questions
Before starting, prepare by developing two MI questions for each step of the GPS model. You can refer to the sample questions for guidance and use the new updated GPS template to write them down.
Conduct the Role Play
When conducting the role play, you can work in groups of two or three. In groups of two, one person plays the hygienist, while the other takes on the role of the patient. In groups of three, one person plays the hygienist, another plays the patient, and the third acts as an observer.
After each role play, take a moment to reflect on what worked well and give constructive feedback:
- Focus on behaviors, not evaluations. Instead of saying, “You were great,” highlight specific actions: “I liked how you asked the patient to set their own goal instead of telling them what to do.”
- Be constructive. If something could be improved, frame it as a question or suggestion: “When you told the patient they needed to clean better, what response were you hoping for?”
- Follow a structure. Start with the hygienist’s reflection — what they felt went well. Then, the patient shares their experience. Finally, the observer adds their perspective.
Choose your Role Play Scenario
Patient Oral Health
- Brushes twice a day with an electric toothbrush.
- No interdental cleaning.
- Signs of early gum disease and tobacco staining.
- Low sugar intake, mostly drinks water and coffee.
Patient Attitudes and Habits
- Smokes 15 cigarettes a day and isn’t interested in quitting.
- Aware of smoking risks but prioritizes other aspects of life.
- Open to using interdental brushes if explained properly.
- Enjoys social drinking and sees no need to cut back.
- Responsive to practical, non-judgmental advice.
Patient Oral Health
- Brushes twice daily but with a hard toothbrush.
- Recently had one extraction and two fillings.
- Never flossed and is skeptical about its benefits.
- Generally attended regular dental check-ups except for a gap about 10 years ago.
- Wants to prevent further extractions but unsure how.
Patient Attitudes and Habits
- Chatty, easily distracted, but willing to refocus when guided.
- Open to learning but slightly embarrassed about being told how to brush.
- Skeptical about expensive dental products (e.g., electric toothbrushes).
- Budget-conscious, looks for deals and discounts.
- Values appearance and is motivated to avoid more visible gaps in her smile.
Patient Oral Health
- Attends yearly dental check-ups and has never had cavities or gum issues.
- Recently increased consumption of high-sugar, acidic drinks, especially during her final years of high school.
- Lately experiencing sensitivity to hot and cold.
- At her most recent check-up, her dentist diagnosed her with enamel erosion.
Patient Attitudes and Habits
- Shocked by the diagnosis — assumed she had been taking good care of her teeth.
- Believes she has been brushing well but may have been too aggressive.
- Strongly influenced by social media beauty trends and sees the “Hollywood smile” as the ideal.
- Has been using a high-abrasive whitening toothpaste, unaware of its impact on her enamel.
- Had planned to request professional whitening but is now uncertain about what steps to take next.