Journal of dental hygiene : JDH
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of a Training Needle on Dental Hygiene Student Anxiety.
Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess whether practicing with a cotton-tipped applicator as compared to a new training device had an effect on the anxiety levels of dental hygiene students prior to administering and receiving their first intraoral injection for local anesthesia. Methods: This pilot study used a convenience sample of senior dental hygiene students from an entry-level Bachelor degree dental hygiene program. Participants completed a pre-test survey after watching a video demonstrating the inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) injection technique to determine anxiety levels regarding administering and receiving an intraoral injection. ⋯ Chi-square tests determined no statistical significance (p =0.125) between the test and control groups in the post-test surveys. Conclusion: Dental hygiene students demonstrated decreased anxiety levels regarding administering and receiving an intraoral injection regardless of the assigned practice device in this pilot study. While use of a training needle was not shown to be superior at reducing anxiety in novice student operators when compared to a cotton tipped applicator, it may be a useful device for teaching local anesthesia administration techniques.
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Purpose: Increasing childhood obesity rates present a significant threat to public health. The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygienists' (DH) beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, current practices, and barriers for assessing and educating patients about childhood obesity. Methods: A random sample of DHs (n=13,357) was selected and emailed a link to the validated survey. ⋯ Regression showed attitudes towards patient's nutrition, exercise, and weight predicted the dental hygienist behavior. Conclusion: DHs have some understanding of the risks of obesity and general/oral health, but lack adequate training, knowledge, and confidence to provide obesity counseling in clinical practice settings. There is a need for further education to address the lack of knowledge about nutritional guidelines and practitioners' beliefs regarding addressing childhood obesity without offending the patient or parent.
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Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess college students' behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge regarding hookah smoking. Methods: A convenience sample of 200 students from various majors, including allied health and nursing students, was used to conduct this study at a university located in the Midwestern United States. Respondents were asked about any past, current, and future hookah smoking behaviors. ⋯ When comparing the knowledge of allied health and nursing majors to all other majors, the allied health and nursing group scored significantly higher (p=.017) than the non-allied health and nursing majors, with mean scores of 4.80 and 3.81, respectively. Thirty-nine percent of the respondents were unaware that hookah tobacco and related smoke can cause oral cancer. Conclusion: Based on the high rates of college student use and the low knowledge scores, this study supports need for more education about hookah smoking and its health consequences.
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Purpose: Interprofessional education (IPE) is a means of fostering integration and collaboration between health care professions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an IPE educational module on dental hygiene (DH) and physician assistants (PA) students' knowledge of the oral manifestations of menopause and overall confidence in treating these conditions. Methods: A convenience sample of DH and PA students was used for this mixed-method study. ⋯ Conclusion: Patients experiencing menopause are susceptible to oral manifestations. Implementation of an IPE intervention demonstrated correlation between an IPE experience and participants' knowledge, attitudes and confidence. Preparing students to meet the needs of menopausal women may ultimately decrease oral discomfort and improve overall quality of life.
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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes of dental hygiene administrators and faculty members about the value of interprofessional education (IPE) within dental hygiene curricula and to determine whether administrator and faculty perspectives were associated with their professional role, gender, experience, knowledge about IPE, and their use of collaborative teaching strategies. Methods: A 34-question survey was used to evaluate dental hygiene administrators' and faculty knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to IPE. Electronic surveys were distributed to 224 program directors and faculty members of all entry-level dental hygiene programs located within the Northeast region of the United States. ⋯ Approximately half of respondents (48%) reported that they are in the very initial stages of incorporating IPE into the curriculum. Conclusion: The majority of the dental hygiene administrators and faculty members surveyed see the value and significance of using IPE to effectively prepare students to enter a collaborative workforce. These perspectives demonstrate that dental hygiene is on the appropriate path for incorporating interprofessional strategies into program curricula.