The purposes of this pilot study were as follows: 1) to determine the percentage and frequency of dental hygiene graduates who were providing tobacco cessation counseling (TCC) activities, after receiving TCC training during their formative years of education; 2) to identify the graduates' stages of change using the transtheoretical model regarding TCC; and 3) to identify factors influencing the delivery of TCC. A convenience sample of fifty-one Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) dental hygiene graduates were surveyed in this study. Wilcoxen signed rank tests were used to analyze the relationship between counseling actions and dental hygienists' stage of change in four TCC activities: asking, advising, assisting, and arranging follow-up. Pros and cons affecting the delivery of TCC were also examined. Findings indicate that dental hygienists who received TCC education during their training do not provide cessation counseling to a high percentage of their patients even though they believe in the value of such activity. However, dental hygienists are more likely to provide TCC to patients with periodontal disease than other dental patients. Conclusions: 1) addressing the potential frustration of the dental hygienist and coping methods when providing TCC during training may alleviate one of the barriers to TCC; 2) ready access to tobacco education materials may alleviate one of the barriers to TCC; and 3) emphasis during TCC training on providing education for all patients as part of health promotion, rather than just periodontal patients, may increase the overall counseling provided.
Teledentistry provides a viable option for dental professionals to increase care in underserved areas. Dental hygiene students at a state university completed a course in teledentistry that includes performing oral health screenings on children using intraoral cameras and electronic submission of dental images to an off-site dentist for diagnosis. Purpose: The objectives of this study were to examine student knowledge, attitudes, and confidence levels before and after completion of a course on teledentistry. Method: A 5-point Likert scale survey consisting of 10 items was administered to students ages twenty-two to twenty-five (N=24) in a teledentistry course the first and last day of class. The survey included current knowledge of teledentistry, attitudes regarding effectiveness of teledentistry, and confidence in acquiring the necessary technical skills. Results: Survey results were analyzed using a matched-pairs t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. There were significant increase in student knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in 9 of the 10 questions (p<.01). Conclusion: This study indicates that student attitudes were positively changed in their knowledge of the effectiveness of teledentistry in identifying dental needs in underserved areas, the role dental hygienists play in access to care, and confidence in acquiring and submitting dental images. These findings, in conjunction with research by other investigators, support continued implementation of teledentistry in dental hygiene education.
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