Interprofessional Educational Experience Among Dietitians After a Pediatric Dentistry Clinical Rotation

Abstract

Interprofessional education is interactive learning focused on collaboration and prepares professionals to improve patient care in a collaborative team environment. This article explores how registered dietitians' views and clinical practices regarding pediatric oral health and nutrition have been influenced by interprofessional education with pediatric dentists. Surveys were e-mailed to 150 dietitians who graduated from New York University and may have participated in a pediatric dental rotation between 2005 and 2010. Out of the 109 who were eligible, 36 (33%) responded. The respondents experienced positive collaboration (72%) as well as an increase in awareness (61%) and knowledge (58%) of the relationship between oral health and dietary habits. Dietitians and dentists have the potential to address overall health and the current obesity epidemic.

Nutrition Care Practices of Dietitians and Oral Health Professionals for Oral Health Conditions: A Scoping Review

“…Three cross-sectional survey studies captured self-reported information about assessment practices of dietitians and/or nutritionists (including WIC personnel) related to nutrition and oral health or oral health only [49][50][51]; these studies are also described in Table 3. Fuller et al [49] found that less than 50% of surveyed WIC personnel assessed children for visual evidence of dental caries; they further found that respondents ≥40 years of age were significantly more likely to do this practice compared to respondents 18-39 years of age (53% vs. 28%).…”

“…They also found that 100% of respondents frequently asked about whether the child brought a bottle to bed. In addition, Fernandez et al [51] found in dietitians who had completed an elective pediatric dentistry rotation during their dietetic internship training that 28% always and 31% never collect information on an adult's oral health history and 24% always and 38% never collect information on a child's oral health history.…”

“…Four cross-sectional survey studies examined provision of interventions for oral health provided by dietitians or nutritionists (including WIC personnel) [49][50][51]89]. Importantly, three of these studies were conducted in WIC personnel [49,50,89].…”

“…Only one study examined the intervention practices of dietitians outside of a WIC setting related to oral health. Fernandez et al [51] surveyed dietitians who completed an elective pediatric dentistry rotation during their dietetic internship training. This study found that among participants, 20% always and 20% never include information about oral health as part of diet counselling; 40% always and 17% never consider the impact on oral health when recommending healthy foods; 34% always and 14% never consider the impact on teeth when providing counselling regarding sugary beverages.…”

“…The study of Fernandez et al [51] was the only study that provided information on the perceived barriers of dietitians in providing their services to dental patients. They investigated different types of barriers, and their results are as follows: cost/reimbursement of dietitian services (significant barrier: 57% of respondents; possible barrier: 43%), interest of clients in diet and oral health (significant barrier: 29%; possible barrier: 63%; not a barrier: 9%), dentist reluctance to refer their patients to a dietitian (significant barrier: 37%; possible barrier: 51%; not a barrier: 11%), and dietitian confidence in providing counselling and/or information in this area (possible barrier: 62%; not a barrier: 38%).…”