The Effect of an Interprofessional Hospital Rotation on Senior Dental Hygiene Students’ Interprofessional Identity

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjectives: With the emerging evidence that oral health is inextricably linked to general health, dental hygienists are gaining attention as key players on the primary healthcare team. Successful collaboration in such interprofessional (IP) teams require dental hygienists to be comfortable practicing outside of the traditional clinic setting. Measuring the interprofessional identity (IPI) of dental hygiene students is integral to understand whether interprofessional educational efforts are adequately preparing them for effective practice in IP teams. Methods: A pretest-posttest survey design was implemented to measure changes in University of Minnesota senior dental hygiene (DH) students’ IPI before and after an interprofessional hospital rotation. Changes in pretest-posttest scores were measured using the Extended Professional Identity Scale (EPIS) (1). Results: The interprofessional hospital rotation resulted in a statistically significant increase in senior dental hygiene students’ total IPI, and the subcategories of IP belonging and IP commitment. Qualitative findings corroborated quantitative results, citing knowledge, respect, and inclusion as primary factors impacting their IPI. Conclusion: An interprofessional hospital rotation has a positive impact on senior dental hygiene students IPI. Results suggest IPE in hospital settings facilitate dental hygiene students’ IPI development, preparing them for future practice on interprofessional teams and in non-traditional settings. Large longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the sustainability of dental hygiene students’ IPI after graduation.