Journal of dental hygiene : JDH
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The purpose of this article is to highlight key aspects of the white paper prepared in 1999 for the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) Institute for Oral Health on Evidence-Based Decision Making and its Application to Dental Hygiene Education, Practice, and Research. These aspects include the need for evidence-based decision making, how it supports contemporary practice and education, basic evidence-based concepts, and strategies for integrating evidence-based decision making into dental hygiene. ⋯ Variations in practice patterns, difficulties in keeping current with the scientific literature, and providing students with knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for contemporary practice are challenges facing the health care professions today, including dental hygiene. To address these problems, an evidence-based approach has been recommended by national organizations. This paper reviews the issues and proposes a model and strategies for engaging dental hygiene clinicians, educators, and researchers in EBDM. Those involved in each area will need training in EBDM concepts and skills before this approach can be fully integrated into education and practice or used to guide research activities. National leadership will be needed to coordinate and prioritize research strategies, promote curricular changes, and improve access to clinically relevant information so that an EBDM approach can become the norm in practice.
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The purpose of this research was to survey U.S. dental hygiene program directors to determine: (1) demographic information, (2) specific Evidence-Based (EB) student instruction methods used, (3) if and how programs use an EB philosophy, (4) perceptions of faculty skills in incorporating EB instruction, and (5) opinions and attitudes regarding future need to incorporate EB philosophies in dental hygiene education. ⋯ Findings of this study suggest dental hygiene educators have made small strides in creating an EB philosophy dental hygiene curriculum. However, the future of dental hygiene education must address the need for faculty development and training in areas such as computer utilization in core dental hygiene courses, strategies to improve the curriculum to stimulate students' critical thinking skills, and to develop educators' skills in the use of evidence for clinical decision-making.
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The purpose of this study was to determine if dental hygienists in the Commonwealth of Virginia experienced sexual harassment while employed in oral health care settings. Other interests were to determine if dental hygienists experienced sexual harassment, to what extent they felt professionally prepared to respond to unwanted sexual behaviors; did they perceive sexual harassment as a problem in the oral health care environment; and was attrition from their employment associated with sexual harassment. ⋯ Information about managing sexual harassment needs to be incorporated into the dental hygiene curricula. This curriculum addition should include information on identifying sexual harassment incidents, strategies for controlling unacceptable behavior, the legal rights of employees, and the process of filing a formal complaint. Dental hygienists need to identify sexual harassment behaviors and receive prevention training though continuing education courses. Furthermore, the American Dental Hygienists Association and the American Dental Association need to collaboratively develop guidelines and policies for dentists and dental hygienists regarding the management of sexual harassment in the oral health care setting.
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The purpose of this study was to develop a comprehensive demographic database of dental hygiene education administrators and to examine their academic professional profile. ⋯ These findings help develop a demographic database and professional academic profile of dental hygiene education administrators that can be used for future research and theory development, trends identification, problem solving, decision making, and policy formation. When compared to past studies, Caucasian females still dominate the profession. Also, dental hygiene faculty/administrators have increased in percentage of earned master's and doctoral degrees, and in advancement of academic rank to full professor. Furthermore, administrators are comparable to other full-time faculty in health-related programs and two-year institutions in regard to academic rank and highest degree earned. Thus, this population reflects individuals who can be considered highly dedicated and educationally prepared for their administrative role. However, compared to faculty across all disciplines in higher education, this population did not reflect advanced professional preparation or academic rank. It is recommended that dental hygiene administrators and faculty continue their scholarly endeavors to help advance the field to full professionalization and build academic legitimacy.