RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To identify circumstances that influenced dental hygiene clinical faculty's likelihood of working during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore attitudes (responsibilities, personal issues, ethics, and policy statements) about working. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a purposive sample of dental hygienists (n = 1710) employed in academic clinical settings that held full-time, part-time, or adjunct appointments. The Health Care Workers' Attitudes to Working During a Pandemic survey was utilized. Likelihood scores were calculated based on respondents more or less likely to work under differing circumstances. Frequencies of agreement for attitudes were developed. Correlations were explored between likelihood scores and demographic data. Answers to the open-ended questions were categorized and described. RESULTS: The response rate was 13.5% (225/1710). Only one-third of respondents had a likelihood score of 100%. Factors with the greatest impact on likelihood to work were personal protective equipment. Almost all respondents' attitudes of working indicated that their employer is responsible for providing PPE. Over 90% felt their main responsibility was to themselves/family. Correlation analyses resulted in no significant associations between likelihood scores and age, etc. Faculty are considering leaving their jobs because of pay cuts and/or not feeling safe. CONCLUSION: Likelihood of working for dental hygiene faculty represents several personal and ethical decisions. Most respondents want employers to be responsible for their on-the-job safety. In addition, personal and work-related issues were causes of unease. The pandemic has had far-reaching implications on day-to-day work of dental hygiene clinical faculty as well as on the long-term trajectories and views on employment in higher education.
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COVID-19 , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/prevención & control , Pandemias , Higiene Bucal , Estudios Transversales , Docentes , Higienistas Dentales/educaciónRESUMEN
PURPOSE: This pilot project was intended to introduce an authentic interprofessional education experience with students from Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD) and Dental Hygiene (DH) to develop and apply strategies to assist children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to decrease their anxiety and improve their ability to participate in an oral screening and prophylaxis appointment. The second purpose was for students to learn each other's scope of practice. METHODS: Four children diagnosed with ASD were identified as having dental anxiety and unmet dental needs. The students collaborated to develop visual support strategies to support the implementation of an oral screening and prophylaxis. RESULTS: Three participants were able to participate in the oral screening, instruction for brushing teeth, and prophylaxis. The students reported having a better understanding of each other's roles and responsibilities and feeling more confident working with a child with ASD. CONCLUSION: The DH students were better able to identify the characteristics associated with ASD and to develop and use visual supports to assist children with ASD control anxiety during dental prophylaxis procedures. The CSD students learned techniques that hygienists use and how to help parents prepare their children for dental hygiene treatments.
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Trastorno del Espectro Autista/psicología , Higienistas Dentales/educación , Estudios Interdisciplinarios , Salud Bucal , Patología del Habla y Lenguaje/educación , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Higiene Bucal/educación , Padres/psicología , Proyectos Piloto , EstudiantesRESUMEN
PURPOSE: This study evaluated the use of an oral health curriculum in physician assistant (PA) practice. METHODS: An oral health curriculum was provided to PA students by dental hygiene faculty. Six months after entering the workforce, the same group was surveyed (n = 46) to evaluate their perception about their abilities to identify certain dental conditions and perform activities relating to oral care. The frequency with which they performed or observed dental conditions in their workplace was also surveyed. RESULTS: The return rate was adequate at 50% (N = 23). All respondents, regardless of practice type, felt able to identify oral issues and perform oral health tasks. PAs working in primary care performed significantly more oral health procedures than PAs working in specialist settings. CONCLUSION: Collaborative efforts between departments of dental hygiene and PAs can successfully produce health professionals who are competent in directing patients about their oral health needs.
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Curriculum , Medicina General , Salud Bucal/educación , Asistentes Médicos/educación , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina , Adulto , Actitud del Personal de Salud , Competencia Clínica , Estudios de Cohortes , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was twofold: to evaluate the implementation of an oral health curriculum to physician assistant (PA) students through interdisciplinary education with dental hygiene faculty; and identify which parts were most important in changing the PA students' knowledge regarding oral health. METHODS: Didactic and laboratory sections were offered. Data collected were from a pre/post-test of 24 items answered on a 5-point Likert scale, reflecting an attitudinal measure of students' (n = 43) ability to apply and understand the oral health curriculum. Chi-squared analyses determined if a relationship existed between answers on the same instrument before and after instruction. RESULTS: Students perceived they improved their level of understanding on all topics. Data were organized from the largest change in perceived competency (≥ 70%) from pre to post-test (8 items), moderately changed (60-69%) (6 items), and least changed (35-59%) (10 items). The items with the largest change included monitor impact of medications on oral tissues, recognize caries and oral lesions that require referral, and recognize signs/symptoms of gingivitis and periodontal disease. CONCLUSIONS: The curriculum enhanced the perceived oral health competency of these PA students and their ability to recognize oral signs/symptoms that may impact a patient's general health.
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Curriculum , Salud Bucal , Asistentes Médicos/educación , Educación Basada en Competencias , Humanos , Estudios Interdisciplinarios , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de SaludRESUMEN
No research data are available about practicing dental hygienists' opinions regarding the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (B.S.D.H.) and the oral health practitioner (OHP), a new professional category in dental hygiene; however, such views would be useful to those implementing these programs in the academic setting as well as those involved in proposing and passing legislation regarding them. The purpose of our study was to gather information from a group of practicing dental hygienists regarding their opinions in three areas: 1) the entry-level B.S.D.H., 2) the OHP, and 3) reasons for being for or against these programs. A survey, sent to 564 dental hygiene graduates, used a five-point Likert scale to evaluate perceptions in various categories. The respondents also ranked perceived benefits and negative impacts. The usable return rate was 33.6 percent. Descriptive statistics were developed, and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. More than 70 percent of the respondents agreed that an associate's degree sufficiently prepared dental hygienists for their positions and that the OHP would have a positive impact on access to dental care. The majority also said they felt the master's-educated hygienist would be adequately prepared to perform proposed OHP functions. Selected demographic variables were found to be significantly associated with perceptions, including that the B.S.D.H. was viewed more positively by younger respondents.
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Actitud del Personal de Salud , Higienistas Dentales/educación , Personal de Salud/educación , Odontología en Salud Pública , Adulto , Anciano , Higienistas Dentales/psicología , Personal de Salud/legislación & jurisprudencia , Humanos , Kansas , Área sin Atención Médica , Persona de Mediana Edad , Minnesota , Autonomía Profesional , Competencia Profesional , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Estados Unidos , Recursos Humanos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Stochastic dynamics of a tethered membrane with a bond-fluctuating coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulation shows, in addition to diffusion, nondiffusive behavior sensitive to the type of membrane, its size, and quality of the solvent. Motion of the membrane's center node is described by the variation of the mean-square displacement (R{n}{2}) with time step (t) , i.e., R{n}{2} proportional, variantt{2nu} with the exponent nu approximately 18-16 in the short time followed by subdiffusive power laws (i.e., nu approximately 15,110 ) in the intermediate time regimes before reaching diffusion nu=1. The crossover between in-plane wrinkle modes is identified from the segmental (node) motion of the membrane.
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Membranas/química , Modelos Teóricos , Fenómenos Biomecánicos , Difusión , Método de Montecarlo , Procesos EstocásticosRESUMEN
This article describes the experiences of a nurse in a new role in a freestanding radiation oncology clinic. Networking to find the resources that patients need and providing guidance to the patients in using the resources through their course of treatment are discussed. Local and national resources that can be used as tools in radiation therapy nursing also are described.