Journal of dental hygiene : JDH
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of daily oral care with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate and a standard oral care protocol on the development of nosocomial pneumonia in intubated patients: a pilot study.
The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if a difference existed between nosocomial pneumonia rates for intubated critical care unit (CCU) patients who received twice-daily oral hygiene care with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate and those who received the standard oral care. ⋯ Twice-daily oral hygiene care with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate may hold promise as a nosocomial pneumonia reduction strategy within hospital CCUs; however, its application requires further testing.
-
This pilot study assessed smoking-related behaviors, experiences, and beliefs among a sample of continuation high school students in California to inform dental hygienists about adolescent tobacco use and to assist with the development of effective tobacco cessation intervention strategies. ⋯ In this sample of adolescents, smoking patterns were variable and many adolescents experienced symptoms of nicotine dependence. The dental hygiene care appointment provides a unique opportunity to discuss oral health effects of smoking, relate oral changes to smoking, and to deliver a brief smoking cessation intervention.
-
Dental hygiene ethics is an essential component of the dental hygiene curriculum. The accreditation standards for dental hygiene education state that graduates must be competent in applying ethical concepts to the provision and/or support of oral health care services. Although the standards for entry into the profession of dental hygiene emphasize the importance of ethical reasoning, there is little published research specific to ethics instruction in dental hygiene programs. The purpose of this study was to assess how ethics is taught in the dental hygiene curriculum. ⋯ This study reveals that programs have taken measures to employ a variety of teaching strategies to ensure that students are competent in applying ethical concepts in the provision of oral health care. However, programs continue to rely primarily on traditional methods of instruction and evaluation such as lecture, discussion, quizzes, and written assignments. Inferential analysis focusing on the influence of the type of institution, showed that in general, the type of institution has little influence on the level of emphasis placed on teaching ethics in dental hygiene curricula. It is recommended that dental hygiene programs continue to implement and evaluate instructional methods that simulate real life experiences and emphasize ethical concepts that promote comprehensive oral health care. Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of ethics instruction within dental hygiene curricula.
-
Research studies have demonstrated the need for and the ability of dental hygienists to provide local anesthetics for pain control and reduction of patient anxiety. Although two-thirds of state dental practice laws allow these services to be performed by dental hygienists, controversy exists between organized dentistry and dental hygiene regarding the administration of local anesthetics by dental hygienists. Some dentists believe the quality of care would be compromised and patient safety jeopardized because dental hygienists do not have adequate background knowledge to prevent complications and recognize emergencies caused by anesthetics. The purpose of this study was to collect quantitative data addressing safety when dental hygienists administer local anesthetics. ⋯ This study affirmed public safety, which should be helpful to states considering statutes to allow the administration of local anesthetics by dental hygienists. Results suggest that properly educated dental hygienists in the states surveyed have administered local anesthetics to patients without harm.
-
Numerous studies have documented comparable outcomes from Web-based and traditional classroom instruction. However, there is a paucity of literature comparing these two delivery formats for gerontology courses in dental hygiene curricula. This study examines the effectiveness of alternative methods of course delivery by comparing student profiles and instructional outcomes from a dental hygiene gerontology course offered both on the Web and in a traditional classroom setting. ⋯ Students selecting a Web-based course format demonstrated greater motivation and learning success based on final course grades, completion of assignments, and knowledge retention over time. Age, previous experience with online courses, and selection of teaching mode are factors that may confound course delivery method to influence instructional outcomes in a gerontology course within a dental hygiene curriculum.