Browsing by Subject "Dental Hygiene"

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    The Effect of Incorporating Active Learning In Calibration Exercises On Intra and Interrater Reliability Among Dental Hygiene Faculty
    (2019-09) Hotzler, Bridget
    ABSTRACT Purpose/Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate if incorporating active learning into calibration exercises increased the level of intra- and interrater reliability among dental hygiene faculty. Methods: The study used a two-group randomized experimental design with a convenience sample consisting of ten dental hygiene faculty members from the division of dental hygiene at the University of Minnesota (n=10). Baseline training in motivational interviewing (MI) was provided to all faculty at a day-long continuing education course. One month later, all faculty viewed three videos of students performing MI during an OSCE and graded their performance using a standardized grading rubric. The treatment group then engaged in the identical motivational interviewing OSCE required of the students. One month later, both study groups viewed the same three videos and graded the students’ MI performance using the identical standardized grading rubric. (See Appendix C). Results: The overall intra-rater reliability was calculated using Cohen’s Kappa statistic, pre-and post-intervention for both the control and treatment groups. Results revealed moderate to weak intra-rater reliability for both groups (.494). Fleiss’ kappa statistic was used to assess interrater reliability. The treatment group achieved higher levels of agreement verses the control group on six of the ten questions. Only one question (See Figure 1: R06) had perfect or near perfect agreement in both study groups. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference found in intra- and interrater reliability scores between the control and treatment groups following an active learning intervention. Even though statistical significance was not achieved, individual faculty data suggests active learning did have an effect on the faculty in the treatment group. Post intervention, faculty in the treatment group had greater variations in scores indicating the experience had challenged their frame of knowledge and may have become more empathetic to the challenges of motivational interviewing having conducted an MI session themselves.
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    Local Anesthesia Teaching Methods: Comparison of Traditional Student-to-Student and Simulation Manikin Training on Dental Hygiene Students’ Skill Level and Self-Confidence
    (2021-12) Thelen, Rachel
    The recent COVID-19 pandemic forced dental educators to quickly modify curricula.Objectives: This study compared two local anesthesia (LA) teaching methods (student-to-student versus simulation) in two cohorts pre- and post-pandemic to assess students’ skill level and self-confidence. Methods: This study recruited a convenience sample of 57 dental hygiene students at the University of Minnesota. Summative clinical assessments measured skill level and student surveys assessed self-confidence. Analyses included descriptive statistics and generalized linear models within and between cohorts, and inductive analysis for qualitative survey responses. Results: Fifty students (88%) completed the survey and 54 (95%) consented access to their clinical assessments. Skill level was significantly higher for the simulation cohort and no differences were found in self-confidence between cohorts. A positive association was found between students’ self-confidence and skill levels for both cohorts, but only student-to-student cohort results were statistically significant. Conclusion: Results support incorporating simulation manikin teaching methods for LA.
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    Perceptions and coping strategies of dental hygienists practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic
    (2022-02) Christensen, Shelah
    Purpose: This study investigates perceptions and coping strategies used by dental hygienists during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, March 1, 2020 until present. The Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping was used as the framework for this study. Methods: An electronic questionnaire (QualtricsTM) with questions in three domains: demographics, perceptions, and coping strategies, was emailed to dental hygienists in five Midwest states, summer of 2021. Participants were asked to indicate perceptions of and coping strategies used, while practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic since March 1, 2020. Bivariate comparisons between respondent demographics and survey responses regarding coping, risks, and strategies were computed using Fisher’s Exact Test. Survey responses were both analyzed as the original 5-point Likert scale and a collapsed 3-point Likert scale assessing overall agreement, disagreement, and neither agreement nor disagreement. Results: Completed questionnaires totaled 167, with a 4.4% response rate. Majority of respondents were white females aged 56 or over, were employed full time, and had been in practice for ≥ 21 years in private general practices. Reduction in working hours was reported by 8.4% of respondents, and 7.2% reported leaving the profession. Perceptions of practicing during the pandemic were reported as experiencing increased risk of infection, a threat to the health of self, family/loved ones, and more physically demanding. The vaccine aided in reducing risk perceptions. Adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were used while practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Dental hygienists perceive practicing dental hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic as putting themselves and family/loved ones at risk of contracting the virus. Respondents reported dental hygiene practice is more physically demanding than before the COVID-19 pandemic and dental hygienists are more easily agitated and worried. Dental hygienists are finding ways of coping with these stresses by engaging in practice to improve mental health, using personal relationships for support, exercising, turning to spirituality, and using social media more than before the pandemic. Dental hygienists in this study reported reduced hours of work, leaving the profession, and considering a different profession, contributing to workforce attrition.