Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Purpose: There is an increased need for dental hygienists with advanced degrees to meet the demands of a complex health care system in addition to advancing the dental hygiene profession. The purpose of this study was to explore the... more
Purpose: There is an increased need for dental hygienists with advanced degrees to meet the demands of a complex health care system in addition to advancing the dental hygiene profession. The purpose of this study was to explore the career paths and satisfaction of dental hygienists with master's and doctoral degrees.Methods: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological research design was used with a purposive sample of dental hygienists (n=20) who had master's and doctoral degrees. A virtual web-based videoconferencing platform was used to conduct focus groups and utilize a national sample. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed. Data was analyzed for themes manually and with qualitative analysis software.Results: The results showed a wide range of career paths such as: administrator, lawyer, entrepreneur, dental therapist, dentist, nurse, educator, researcher, public speaker, consultant, editor, state oral health program coordinator, and marketing. The results also indicated that participants were satisfied and valued the pursuit of their advanced education. The six themes that emerged included: expanded opportunities; personal growth; professional growth; credibility; it's an investment; and just do it, don't overanalyze or second guess yourself.Conclusion: Findings suggest satisfaction with advanced education as well as a wide variety of career paths. Participants also endorsed more dental hygienists being educated at the master's and doctoral level to advance the profession of dental hygiene.
Research Interests:
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES There is little research regarding dental hygiene faculty perspectives on advising graduate students through the thesis process. This study explored dental hygiene faculty's experiences when advising DH graduate... more
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES There is little research regarding dental hygiene faculty perspectives on advising graduate students through the thesis process. This study explored dental hygiene faculty's experiences when advising DH graduate students through the thesis process and understanding their perspectives on the factors impacting completion of the thesis. METHODS This qualitative phenomenological research study utilized virtual focus groups with a purposive sample of graduate DH thesis advisors (n = 18) from institutions with a thesis-based Master of Science degree. A deductive analysis method was implemented based on six main topics (advisor's roles, advisor expectations of advisee, advisee challenges, student support strategies, institutional polices and resources, and academic workload and benefits of the advisor role) in the literature using qualitative analysis software. RESULTS Main emergent themes included being a co-investigator and supervisor of the advisee research process; expectations of advisee to respect the advisor's time and effort; expectation advisee understand the demands of a thesis; advisees challenges included self-doubt and balancing of responsibilities; need to develop the advisor/advisee relationship and trust with advisee; and university policies and the availability of resources impact on the thesis completion. CONCLUSION Dental Hygiene thesis advisors reported incorporation of many strategies to execute their role. The thesis process is unique to every student; however, the advisor's comprehensive problem-solving skills and the student's perseverance collectively facilitate the completion of the thesis. Institutional policies, other resources, and the increase in workload are potential barriers for Dental Hygiene thesis advisors and require advocating on behalf of their advisee for on-time thesis completion.
Research Interests:
Purpose: The percentage of men entering the dental hygiene profession has increased from less than 1% of the workforce in 1999 to 6.1% in 2020. However, little is known about the experiences of male dental hygienists. The purpose of this... more
Purpose: The percentage of men entering the dental hygiene profession has increased from less than 1% of the workforce in 1999 to 6.1% in 2020. However, little is known about the experiences of male dental hygienists. The purpose of this study was to explore and better understand the experiences of male dental hygienists.Methods: A qualitative phenomenological research design was used with a purposive sample of male dental hygienists (n=19) recruited via social media groups. Virtual focus groups were conducted and participants were asked open-ended questions to assist in data collection. The data analysis was conducted both manually and with qualitative analysis software. Two investigators independently identified emergent themes and a sub-set of participants participated in member checking of the themes identified.Results: The following major themes were identified: stereotype, "not just because I'm a guy, I'm a dental hygienist," discrimination, reverse discrimin...
Research Interests:
The aim of this study was to assess the oral health knowledge among professionals who specialize in treating eating disorders, and identify to what extent their education, and training addresses oral health care delivery, and... more
The aim of this study was to assess the oral health knowledge among professionals who specialize in treating eating disorders, and identify to what extent their education, and training addresses oral health care delivery, and recommendations for individuals with eating disorders. Participants for this study were licensed behavioural and medical providers specializing in eating disorder treatment (n = 107), and recruited through professional eating disorder organizations. Participants completed an anonymous, online questionnaire (33 items) assessing level of oral health-related education, knowledge and treatment recommendations within the participant's respective eating disorder discipline. The majority of respondents (85%) were formally trained in eating disorders, and of those trained, 64.4% were not satisfied with the level of oral health education during formal education, and 19.5% report no oral health education. Respondents consider their knowledge of risk of oral disease for their clients/patients as average or above (84%), and ranked tooth erosion as the greatest reason for oral care (63%) while dry mouth led in the rankings for least significant reason for oral care (33%). Referral for oral care was found to be more common after reports of complication (55%). According to these findings, eating disorder professionals regard oral health care for their clients as significant, and may be unaware of associated oral risk factors, current oral care standards and long-term oral effects of disordered eating apart from enamel erosion.
Research Interests:
Dental professionals are in an ideal position to recognize children at high nutritional and oral health risk and provide early intervention. Some of the children at highest risk for nutritional and oral health problems include those born... more
Dental professionals are in an ideal position to recognize children at high nutritional and oral health risk and provide early intervention. Some of the children at highest risk for nutritional and oral health problems include those born prematurely, children with failure to thrive, those on multiple medications, special needs children with developmental delays, children with gastroesophageal reflux, and those with lactose intolerance. Nutrition and oral health guidelines are provided to aid the dental practitioner in providing preventive nutrition intervention to these high risk children.
Research Interests: Dentistry, Medicine, Humans, Child, Oral health, and 10 moreLactose intolerance, Dental Caries, Infant, Developmental disabilities, Newborn Infant, Guidance and Counseling Intervention Programs, Gastroesophageal Reflux, Child preschool, International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, and Nutrition assessment
OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE Given the lack of research within dentistry as it relates to workplace bullying (WPB), the purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of WPB and predictors of WPB for dental hygienists in clinical practice.... more
OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE Given the lack of research within dentistry as it relates to workplace bullying (WPB), the purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of WPB and predictors of WPB for dental hygienists in clinical practice. METHODS Cross-sectional survey research was used with a convenience sample of dental hygienists (n=943) providing patient care to explore WPB. Ninety-three percent of participants resided in the United States, and 6.9% lived internationally. The survey was shared via social media on Facebook and Instagram group pages, specifically dental focused. The validated Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) was used to measure the exposure WPB using descriptive, correlation, chi-square and Mann-Whitney U. RESULTS The completion rate was 81% (n=765). Results showed 21% of participants had experienced WPB now and then, 9.4% several times a week, and 2.9% almost daily. Predictors for WPB included highest degree earned (p=-0.03), US (United States) region of residence (p=0.001), clinical setting (private practice versus dental service organization) (p<0.001), clinical years of experience (p=0.002), and work status (full- or part-time) (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS The findings confirmed WPB has been experienced by 1 in 5 clinical dental hygienists. Dental hygienists in their early years are more likely to have reported workplace bullying than those with more years of practice. WPB is not a new phenomenon, but given the prevalence observed in dental hygiene participants, employers need to be active in preventing and managing bullying to create and maintain an effective dental team and positive work environment.
Research Interests:
Purpose: Children of Hispanic seasonal or migrant farmworkers in the United States (US) experience high rates of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and have high rates of untreated dental caries. The purpose of this study was to explore... more
Purpose: Children of Hispanic seasonal or migrant farmworkers in the United States (US) experience high rates of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and have high rates of untreated dental caries. The purpose of this study was to explore Hispanic seasonal farmworker caregivers' beliefs and/or perceptions regarding ECC their children's oral health.Methods: A qualitative explanatory model interview approach was used with a purposive sample of Hispanic parents/caregivers, working and residing in Orange and Ulster Counties, New York. The Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) was used as a guide to the semi-structured, recorded interviews conducted in locations selected by the participants. The texts were independently read and thematically analyzed by two researchers.Results: A total of 20 parents/caregivers consented to participate. Six themes were identified for the components of the EMIC and included: etiology: eating candy/sweets (65%); sign/symptoms of decay: tooth color ch...
Research Interests:
Health care education requires students to connect classroom learning with patient care. The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygiene students' perceptions of teaching tools, activities and teaching methods useful in... more
Health care education requires students to connect classroom learning with patient care. The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygiene students' perceptions of teaching tools, activities and teaching methods useful in closing the gap between theory and practice as students transition from classroom learning into the clinical phase of their training. This was an exploratory qualitative study design examining retrospective data from journal postings of a convenience sample of dental hygiene students (n=85). Open-ended questions related to patient care were given to junior and senior students to respond in a reflective journaling activity. A systematic approach was used to establish themes. Junior students predicted hands-on experiences (51%), critical thinking exercises (42%) and visual aids (27%) would be the most supportive in helping them connect theory to practice. Senior students identified critical thinking exercises (44%) and visual aids (44%) as the most benefici...
Research Interests:
Purpose: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a chronic health condition in which the symptoms often go unnoticed. Oral problems accompanying GERD may include non-specific burning sensation, mucosa ulceration and erosion, erythema of... more
Purpose: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a chronic health condition in which the symptoms often go unnoticed. Oral problems accompanying GERD may include non-specific burning sensation, mucosa ulceration and erosion, erythema of the soft/hard palate mucosa and uvula, loss of taste and either xerostomia or increased salivary flow with potential long-term complications such as difficulty swallowing, trouble breathing, esophagitis and potential development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a GERD screening in the dental clinic setting to identify and refer patients.Methods: This was a descriptive survey design utilizing a convenience sample of patients (n=227) from two dental hygiene clinics. Students and faculty were calibrated to administer a previously validated, GERD diagnostic screening questionnaire.Results: The prevalence of GERD in the study population was 8.7%; with 10.1% of female reporting symptoms ...
Research Interests:
The purpose of this report was to establish baseline data on 10 oral health performance indicators over 5 fiscal years (2007 to 2008 through 2011 to 2012) for an Iowa health center. The baseline data provides an assessment model and... more
The purpose of this report was to establish baseline data on 10 oral health performance indicators over 5 fiscal years (2007 to 2008 through 2011 to 2012) for an Iowa health center. The baseline data provides an assessment model and reports outcomes based on the use of the model. Performance indicators show evidence of provider performance, accountability to stakeholders and provide the benchmarks required for dental management to develop future goals to improve oral health outcomes for at-risk populations. Using descriptive statistic, this report extrapolated data from the Iowa Health Center's computer management systems software, HealthPro, and Centricity electronic medical records, and analyzed using IBM® SPSS® 19. This report describes the change in utilization for number and type of visits for uninsured and Medicaid patients over 5 fiscal years (a fiscal year is measured from November 1 through October 31). The number of patients receiving at least 1 dental visit in a measu...
Research Interests:
Purpose: Numerous oral health promotion programs are directed at reducing the prevalence of early childhood caries. Smartphone applications (app) may be beneficial in oral health promotion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the... more
Purpose: Numerous oral health promotion programs are directed at reducing the prevalence of early childhood caries. Smartphone applications (app) may be beneficial in oral health promotion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a smartphone app, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), on the oral health behaviors of the parents of preschoolers.Methods: A two-phase, sequential, embedded mixed methods design explored how the app influenced the attitudes, beliefs, perceived behavioral control, and intentions of parents of preschoolers. Phase 1 was a quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest design. Parents of preschool aged children (n=26) participated in the 4-week intervention. Phase 2 consisted of qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of parents from Phase 1 (n=11).Results: Parents' behavioral intentions or oral health behaviors with their preschoolers did not significantly change from pre- to post-intervention (p>.05). Social norms (SN)...
Purpose: Little is known about the self-care practices of dental hygiene students. The purpose of this study was to explore the self-care practices among dental hygiene students to examine the relationships between self-care practices,... more
Purpose: Little is known about the self-care practices of dental hygiene students. The purpose of this study was to explore the self-care practices among dental hygiene students to examine the relationships between self-care practices, work hours, and caregiver responsibilities.Methods: The validated Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile [HPLP II] survey was used to assess a convenience sample of dental hygiene students (n=416) in the United States (US) and Canada. The survey instrument consisted of 61 items in six subscales; spiritual growth, nutrition, interpersonal relations, health responsibility, physical activity, and stress management and was distributed to dental hygiene students through program directors and student social media sites. Data was analyzed using correlation, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallace and regression to explore relationships between the variables.Results: Eighty-one percent of the target population opened the link and completed the survey (n=337). Mean scores...
Research Interests:
Purpose: Untreated and poorly controlled diabetes causes increased levels of blood glucose associated with poor periodontal disease outcomes. Dental hygienists can play a significant role in screening patients for diabetes mellitus,... more
Purpose: Untreated and poorly controlled diabetes causes increased levels of blood glucose associated with poor periodontal disease outcomes. Dental hygienists can play a significant role in screening patients for diabetes mellitus, leading to referral and early diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers faced by clinical dental hygienists regarding diabetes risk assessment and screenings.Methods: A mixed method design was used with a convenience sample of dental hygienists in clinical practice (n=316). A 32 item, electronic survey was validated at item-level, and participants were recruited through multiple dental hygiene Facebook groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The survey also included two open-ended attitude questions that were interpreted using thematic analysis to pinpoint common patterns within the data.Results: Dental hygienists had high knowledge scores regarding diabetes and oral heal...
Research Interests:
Purpose: Research indicates that geriatric education continues to be inadequate across the health professions and graduates are unprepared to care for the increasing numbers of older adults. The purpose of this study was to explore dental... more
Purpose: Research indicates that geriatric education continues to be inadequate across the health professions and graduates are unprepared to care for the increasing numbers of older adults. The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygiene practitioners' perspectives regarding whether their dental hygiene education prepared them to treat older adults in community and institutional settings.Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study design was utilized to conduct in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of dental hygienists currently providing care for older adult patients in alternative practice settings.Results: Fifteen dental hygienists from across the U.S. working with older patients in alternative settings, met the inclusion criteria (n=15). Common themes related to dental hygiene practice emerged from the qualitative data included: adapting patient care to alternative settings; emotional toll on the practitioner; physical challenges; outcome goals for treatment...
A case representative of issues dental practitioners may face when providing care to patients with a history of bariatric surgery is reviewed. Meta-analysis shows that, following bariatric surgery, 43 to 79% of diabetes, hyperlipidemia... more
A case representative of issues dental practitioners may face when providing care to patients with a history of bariatric surgery is reviewed. Meta-analysis shows that, following bariatric surgery, 43 to 79% of diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension in patients resolved to normal levels or no longer required therapy. However, bariatric surgery side effects have implications for oral health, including nutrient deficiencies impacting healing of oral tissues and gastroesophageal reflux, resulting in tooth erosion. Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery are seen with increasing frequency in dental offices and dental professionals need to be familiar with the challenges these patients present.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
OBJECTIVES The use of conventional treatment for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) reduce the prevalence of pain, but with popularity of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) therapies for treatment it is important to... more
OBJECTIVES The use of conventional treatment for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) reduce the prevalence of pain, but with popularity of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) therapies for treatment it is important to explore their use and impact on dental hygienists (DHs) quality of life (QoL). METHODS A cross-sectional survey research design was used with a non-probability sample of dental hygienists (n=85) with WRMSDs who used CAM therapies. The WHOQOL-BREF was used to assess quality of life and compared with CAM use and frequency. Analysis included descriptive, t-tests, correlation, and chi square tests of independence. RESULTS The most commonly used CAM types were massage (81%) and chiropractic manipulation (67%) with 66% of respondents using two or more CAM therapies. Participants using five or less different CAMs (n=46), compared to those using more than five CAM types (n=35, M=2.3, SD=1.5), t (79) =2.7, p=0.01, had a higher average number of years before they noticed their WRMSD (M=3.3, SD=1.9). Participants reporting use of a higher number of CAM types also had lower QoL physical health domain scores (rho=-0.2, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS DHs used a variety of CAM approaches to manage WRMSDs and had a lower QoL across all domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment) than the normative mean. More research is needed to explore the use of CAM approaches, such as yoga, for prevention and management of WRMSDs to improve QoL.
Research Interests:
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a significant public health concern disproportionately affecting low-income children. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the establishment of a dental home and ECC prevalence in... more
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a significant public health concern disproportionately affecting low-income children. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the establishment of a dental home and ECC prevalence in a group of Medicaid-enrolled preschool children, and to explore feeding practices associated with an increased prevalence of ECC in Medicaid-enrolled preschool children with an established dental home was evaluated. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Medicaid-enrolled children (n=132) between 2 and 5 years of age with an established dental home and no dental home to compare feeding practices, parental knowledge of caries risk factors and oral health status. Children with an established dental home had lower rates of biofilm (p<0.05), gingivitis (p<0.05) and mean decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) scores (p<0.05). Children with no dental home consumed more soda and juice (p<0.05) daily, and ate more sticky fruit snacks (p...
Research Interests:
Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) are most in need of anticipatory guidance and prevention. Achieving and maintaining optimal oral health is challenging, due to the many challenges this group faces both in medical and dental... more
Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) are most in need of anticipatory guidance and prevention. Achieving and maintaining optimal oral health is challenging, due to the many challenges this group faces both in medical and dental care. The purpose of this pilot project was to identify the educational needs of health professionals on a feeding team to prepare them to provide anticipatory guidance to special needs children, along with preliminary investigation into the role of the dental hygienist in improving the oral health of the CSHCN served by the feeding team. Small focus groups were used to determine educational needs of the feeding team and provide initial identification of the role of the dental hygienist on the feeding team. The needs assessment indicated interest in an in-service to address connections between oral health and feeding issues, i.e.problems related to tube feeding and oral hypo- and hypersensitivities of the CSHCN. This project suggests there is a rol...
Research Interests:
Purpose: There is limited research about the job satisfaction (JS), burnout (BO), and intention to leave (ITL) amongst dental hygienists in clinical practice providing patient care. The purpose of this study was to explore current trends... more
Purpose: There is limited research about the job satisfaction (JS), burnout (BO), and intention to leave (ITL) amongst dental hygienists in clinical practice providing patient care. The purpose of this study was to explore current trends and the factors influencing JS, BO, and ITL among dental hygienists in their current positions.Methods: A cross-sectional research study was conducted with a convenience sample of dental hygienists recruited via social media sites. The web-based survey consisted of three previously validated instruments (Job Satisfaction Survey, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, and Turnover Intention Scale). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.Results: The survey completion rate was 77% (n=554). Job satisfaction and burnout were associated with five factors related to ITL: frustration, achieving personal-work related goals, considering leaving, accepting another job, job satisfying personal needs, and looking forward to another day at work. Findings ind...
Research Interests:
Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess child care providers' level of knowledge of first aid management and attitudes towards dental injuries among preschool-age children within Fairfield County, Connecticut and Boston,... more
Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess child care providers' level of knowledge of first aid management and attitudes towards dental injuries among preschool-age children within Fairfield County, Connecticut and Boston, Massachusetts.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study used a web-based, validated questionnaire adapted from several studies with permission from authors. A panel of 5 dental experts determined the relevance of the questions and overall content (I-CVI range 0.8-1; S-CVI = 0.95). The 28 question survey included demographics, level of knowledge, attitudes about traumatic dental injuries, emergency management, and 2 case study questions on management of luxation and tooth fracture. Survey data was coded and analyzed for associations and trends using STATA® statistics/data analysis software v. 11.2.Results: A total of 100 child care providers completed the online questionnaire. Eighty-four percent self-reported little to no knowledge about dental injury...
Research Interests:
Purpose: Certified Public Health Dental Hygienists (CPHDH) perform traditional dental hygiene scope of practice duties, along with caries stabilization (interim therapeutic restorations) through collaborative agreements with a dentist, in... more
Purpose: Certified Public Health Dental Hygienists (CPHDH) perform traditional dental hygiene scope of practice duties, along with caries stabilization (interim therapeutic restorations) through collaborative agreements with a dentist, in the state of New Hampshire. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the oral health status, dental needs, including referral and utilization, and satisfaction of care received by homebound individuals in their place of residence when provided by a CPHDH.Methods: A purposive sample of homebound individuals participated in a mixed methods study that included quantitative data from an intake survey, a retrospective chart review, and qualitative in-depth interviews.Results: Study participants (n=15) had an average of 22.4 natural teeth; 44% of participants had not seen a dentist for two or more years. Forty-three percent of participants required a referral to a dentist due to dental needs beyond the scope of the CPHDH. Themes from the interviews ...
Research Interests:
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness of registered dental hygienists (RDHs), licensed in the state of Maine, regarding the midlevel dental hygiene therapist (DHT) provider model and to gather data regarding the... more
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness of registered dental hygienists (RDHs), licensed in the state of Maine, regarding the midlevel dental hygiene therapist (DHT) provider model and to gather data regarding the degree of interest in enrolling in a DHT program.Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study design with a non-probability purposive sampling of actively practicing RDHs in the state of Maine (n=1,284) was utilized for the web-based survey. Survey questions included awareness in the passage of DHT legislation, level of interest pursuing education and licensure in this midlevel provider model. Data was collected over a three-week period. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used for data analysis.Results: Response rate was 21% (n=268). Sixty-five percent of respondents expressed interest in enrolling in a DHT program and 40% of those respondents stated a willingness to enroll in a DHT program within the coming year. Although willing to ...
Research Interests: Psychology and Medicine
Purpose: Workplace violence (WPV) and inappropriate patient sexual behavior (IPSB) have become increasingly prevalent in the United States. Previous research has shown health care professionals are at a 16-times higher risk of... more
Purpose: Workplace violence (WPV) and inappropriate patient sexual behavior (IPSB) have become increasingly prevalent in the United States. Previous research has shown health care professionals are at a 16-times higher risk of experiencing WPV and IPSB than other occupations, however, there is a lack of research in the field of dental hygiene. The purpose of the study was to examine the experiences of dental hygienists with IPSB in the workplace.Methods: A cross-sectional survey research design was used with a purposive sample of clinical dental hygienists recruited through social media sites (n=471). The validated survey was comprised of demographic and IPSB-related questions, with one open-ended question to expand on experiences with IPSB. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, t-tests and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data.Results: The survey completion rate was 49% (n=232). Career occurrence of IPSB was 85.8% and occurrence within the last 12-...
Research Interests:
Literature on self-assessment presents substantial evidence regarding the impact of self-assessment on practitioners and quality of care. Related dental hygiene research documents a need to enhance curricula; however, no published... more
Literature on self-assessment presents substantial evidence regarding the impact of self-assessment on practitioners and quality of care. Related dental hygiene research documents a need to enhance curricula; however, no published curriculum module exists to effectively teach self-assessment. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of a self-assessment educational module for dental hygiene curricula designed using evidence from the literature and adult learning principles. This module was implemented with 33 junior dental hygiene students as a guest presentation with active learning strategies followed by a clinical practice time period. A one-group, pretest-posttest design was employed using a 2-part pretest and three-part posttest to determine if the module affected dental hygiene students’ perceptions about self-assessment and their voluntary application of it in the clinical environment. The relationship between students’ perceptions and voluntary application of self...
Research Interests: Psychology and Dentistry
In the United States, approximately 2.7 million grandparents have permanent custody of their grandchildren. Prevalence of primary dental caries has remained steady for those living in poverty, and among children of color. Children in the... more
In the United States, approximately 2.7 million grandparents have permanent custody of their grandchildren. Prevalence of primary dental caries has remained steady for those living in poverty, and among children of color. Children in the care of their grandparents frequently live in socioeconomically disadvantaged households, where dental disparities continue to exist. Research regarding the grandfamily dynamic as it relates to oral health, is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate oral health perceptions, behaviors, and knowledge of grandparents raising/caring for their grandchildren; and explore how a grandparent caregiver’s oral health knowledge influences their perceptions/behaviors regarding their grandchild’s oral health. This descriptive, cross-sectional survey research used non-probability sampling strategies to recruit grandparents who were the primary caregiver of their grandchildren, aged birth to eighteen years. A validated questionnaire was employed, both...
Research Interests:
Purpose: Health disparities in the United States (US) are widespread, especially among racial and ethnic minorities populations. The purpose of this study was to assess whether oral health care knowledge and acculturation were associated... more
Purpose: Health disparities in the United States (US) are widespread, especially among racial and ethnic minorities populations. The purpose of this study was to assess whether oral health care knowledge and acculturation were associated with utilization of oral health services among the Latino and Hispanic population in Massachusetts.Methods: A cross-sectional survey research design was used with a convenience sample of Hispanic or Latino adults (n=315) residing in Massachusetts. The survey consisted of three validated instruments: New Oral Health Literacy Instrument for Public Health, the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute survey, and the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics survey (SASH). Oral health utilization was assessed using descriptive statistics, relationships between variables were assessed using t-tests.Results: The survey had a completion rate of 73% (n=230). Participants with dental insurance had a higher mean number of correct oral health kn...
Research Interests:
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a smartphone application (app) prototype, ToothSense, as an oral health promotion tool for the prevention of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) based on the Theory of Planned Behavior... more
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a smartphone application (app) prototype, ToothSense, as an oral health promotion tool for the prevention of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).Methods: A quantitative and qualitative design process based on the TPB was used for the app development in the first phase of the study. A behavioral intervention technologic model was used to document the app features design, accounting for Doshi's intervention strategies for the TPB. Beta-testing of the app was hosted via an online software program. Testers were presented with a series of tasks and prompts followed by a 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire that quantitatively measured perceptions of the app's interactive design based on Jakob Nielsen's principles and behavioral strategies. A Net Promotor Score was calculated to determine the tester's likelihood to recommend the app prototype. Audio and video aspects of the app ...
Research Interests: Psychology and Medicine
Purpose: Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have a higher risk of oral disease and require assistance in performing oral self-care. The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of an oral health... more
Purpose: Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have a higher risk of oral disease and require assistance in performing oral self-care. The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of an oral health education program in improving caregivers' oral health knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and self-efficacy in providing oral health care to clients with IDD, residing in intermediate care facilities.Methods: A non-probability sample of new hire caregivers (n=47) for clients with IDD residing in an intermediate care facility was used for this quasi-experimental study. A one-group repeated measures design was used to explore the effectiveness of an oral health education program. All variables were examined using summary statistics and evaluated for normality and statistical assumptions.Results: Forty-seven participants attended the oral health education program intervention and completed the pre- and post-intervention questionnaire. Seventy percent (n=3...
Research Interests:
UNLABELLED Achieving and maintaining optimal oral health proves difficult in children with special health care needs (CSHCN) due to the many challenges this group faces in both medical and dental care. PURPOSE The study's purpose was... more
UNLABELLED Achieving and maintaining optimal oral health proves difficult in children with special health care needs (CSHCN) due to the many challenges this group faces in both medical and dental care. PURPOSE The study's purpose was to gain consensus from members of the Washington state pediatric community feeding team (WSCFT) on the role of the dental hygienist as a team member in relation to elements of care coordination: assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation, advocacy, and health education/promotion. METHODS The Delphi technique was used in two online rounds to survey the community feeding team members (n = 112). In Round 1, participants were asked to identify items within the elements of care coordination deemed necessary for inclusion in the roles of the dental hygienist as a member of the team. Items identified were categorized within the elements of care coordination. In Round 2, participants rated the importance of each item for incl...
Research Interests:
Purpose: Increasing childhood obesity rates present a significant threat to public health. The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygienists' (DH) beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, current practices, and barriers for assessing... more
Purpose: Increasing childhood obesity rates present a significant threat to public health. The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygienists' (DH) beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, current practices, and barriers for assessing and educating patients about childhood obesity.Methods: A random sample of DHs (n=13,357) was selected and emailed a link to the validated survey. Of the 1046 respondents who accessed the survey, 919 completed the survey for a completion rate of 89%.Results: A majority of the respondents understood the risk of chronic disease and obesity (99%), role sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) play as added sugar content in the diet (76%), and the amount of SSBs consumed by youth (91%). Participants felt current research showed an association between obesity and periodontal disease (62%), but were unsure of the association between obesity and dental caries (51%). Most respondents never measure height and weight (91%) or plot BMI (94%). Fifty-one percent always p...
Purpose: Identifying individuals at risk for developing periodontal disease helps to prevent, treat, and manage this condition. The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors of dental hygienists... more
Purpose: Identifying individuals at risk for developing periodontal disease helps to prevent, treat, and manage this condition. The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors of dental hygienists regarding the use of periodontal risk assessment tools.Methods: This cross-sectional survey study used a convenience sample of dental hygienists recruited through social media and snowball sampling. The validated electronic survey included items related to demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practice behaviors regarding the use of periodontal risk assessment tools in the clinical setting. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data and outcomes were represented through frequencies and percentiles.Results: Two-hundred eighty-two of the respondents (n=282) (n=530) met the inclusion criteria, for a participation rate of 53%. A majority (88%) "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that periodontal risk assessment tools improve co...
Purpose: Research indicates clinicians face barriers when attempting to utilize evidence-based protocols for periodontal disease and periodontal disease diagnosis often varies between dental providers. The purpose of this study was to... more
Purpose: Research indicates clinicians face barriers when attempting to utilize evidence-based protocols for periodontal disease and periodontal disease diagnosis often varies between dental providers. The purpose of this study was to identify and better understand dental hygienists' perceived barriers and experiences during the process of diagnosing periodontal disease in clinical practice.Methods: This study used a qualitative design and a purposive sample of dental hygienists (n=20). Utilizing a virtual video-conferencing platform, participants logged into focus group sessions to discuss their experiences with diagnosing periodontal disease in clinical practice. Focus group sessions were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis involved the use of inductive coding to draw themes from the data.Results: Dental hygienists reported being responsible for periodontal disease diagnosis, and that they utilized similar classification systems, and agreed with colleagues' periodo...
This study aimed to explore the level of perceived oral health literacy (OHL) among caregivers of the homebound population in the Chicago metropolitan area and how caregivers’ OHL impacts their oral care to the homebound population. The... more
This study aimed to explore the level of perceived oral health literacy (OHL) among caregivers of the homebound population in the Chicago metropolitan area and how caregivers’ OHL impacts their oral care to the homebound population. The relationships between demographic characteristics, perceived OHL levels, personal oral health behaviors, and oral health care to clients were also assessed. This cross-sectional survey research examined 69 caregivers of the homebound population employed by home health agencies. The OHL was determined by the validated Health Literacy in Dentistry Scale (HeLD-14). Independent t-tests, chi-square tests set at p
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
As universities and colleges seek to reach more students in efficient ways, the use of synchronous distance education (SDE) can be an alternative to traditional classrooms. This study focused on face-to-face SDE, in which classrooms... more
As universities and colleges seek to reach more students in efficient ways, the use of synchronous distance education (SDE) can be an alternative to traditional classrooms. This study focused on face-to-face SDE, in which classrooms equipped with interactive synchronous technologies allow students in both classrooms and the professor to synchronously see and hear one another. The aims of the study were to aid educators in understanding student concerns, determine whether face-to face SDE was sacrificing overall student satisfaction, and investigate whether satisfaction improved as the program matured. This mixed-methods study utilized a convenience sample of two cohorts of dental hygiene students (n=122) in one program: Cohort 1, which graduated in 2014 as the first class to experience face-to-face SDE; and Cohort 2, which graduated in 2015. The response rate for the two cohorts was 95%. Perceptions of face-to-face SDE versus traditional classroom experiences and characteristics of face-to-face SDE were measured using pre- and post-program surveys. The results showed no difference in student perceptions and expectations pre-course vs. post-course, although Cohort 2 had a more positive perception of SDE than did Cohort 1 (p<0.001). Perceptions of characteristics related to the classroom setting and instructor satisfaction were overall positive (p<0.001). The qualitative data suggested that technological support and faculty familiarity with SDE were substantial influences on students' satisfaction. Overall, there was no significant difference in satisfaction with face-to-face SDE when students compared it to their previous classroom experiences.
Research Interests:
Many health professions have identified characteristics of an effective clinical instructor and used this information to create tools to measure clinical teaching effectiveness (CTE) in their disciplines. However, minimal research has... more
Many health professions have identified characteristics of an effective clinical instructor and used this information to create tools to measure clinical teaching effectiveness (CTE) in their disciplines. However, minimal research has been conducted to explore the attributes of an effective clinical instructor in dental hygiene education. The aim of this study was to identify the attributes of dental hygiene clinical instructors associated with effective teaching. This study used a Delphi research design to iteratively survey an expert panel of 14 dental hygiene instructors in dental hygiene programs from 13 U.S. states in 2019. A cumulative overall response rate of 89.3% was achieved after conducting three survey rounds. The results showed statistically significant consensus on 91 CTE characteristics. Participants agreed that effective clinical instructors should possess the ability to clearly communicate, foster interpersonal relationships, encourage a climate of mutual respect, and act as good role models who are emotionally intelligent, caring, trustworthy, fair, honest, and supportive. There was also agreement that effective clinical instructors were those who created a safe learning environment centered on collaboration, motivation, guidance, and positive corrective feedback. These results were similar to those identified in other health professions. However, there is a need for dental hygiene education to develop its own CTE assessment tool for use in professional development.
Research Interests:
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE Conflict and discourtesy between college students and faculty have become increasingly common in higher education. Fallout from uncivil student encounters can have numerous effects on educators' overall health and... more
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE Conflict and discourtesy between college students and faculty have become increasingly common in higher education. Fallout from uncivil student encounters can have numerous effects on educators' overall health and has been shown to negatively impact learning environments. This research assessed the severity and frequency of student incivility in dental hygiene education and explored the relationship uncivil behavior has on faculty feelings of confidence, career satisfaction, and longevity. METHODS Cross-sectional survey research was conducted among dental hygiene educators (n = 601) in the United States and Canada using purposive and snowball sampling. The survey (47-item) was developed based on the literature and validated prior to administration. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between variables and mean item category scores and thematic analysis was used to identify themes for open-ended questions. RESULTS Survey completion rate was 78% (n = 469). Behaviors ranked mildly uncivil, such as eating/drinking in class, occurred more frequently, and incivility had less impact on faculty confidence with increased age (r = -.19; P ≤ 0.01). The level of severity of behaviors did not impact educators; however, how often certain behaviors occurred had some effect. Contemptuous behaviors, such as using a disrespectful/sarcastic tone (r = .34, .32, .31; P ≤ 0.01), had the most impact. CONCLUSION This study determined student incivility exists within dental hygiene education. Day-to-day, minor uncivil behaviors seemingly take a greater emotional toll than occasional, highly uncivil encounter. Understanding how faculty perceive these behaviors may influence development of management strategies, fostering a sense of career satisfaction for educators.
Research Interests:
Introduction: A growing body of research has found implications for oral health postbariatric surgery. Purpose: To review the literature about the impact postbariatric surgery on oral health. Main ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health needs of community-dwelling older adults participating in congregate meal centers and to determine whether differences exist in the oral health needs of older adult populations... more
The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health needs of community-dwelling older adults participating in congregate meal centers and to determine whether differences exist in the oral health needs of older adult populations residing in urban versus rural communities in the state of Texas.Study participants were recruited at 6 congregate meal centers located in identified rural and urban communities in the greater metropolitan area of Austin, Texas. (N=78) Participants completed a validated, modified questionnaire containing 20 items on the following topics: self-reported oral health, tooth loss, dental insurance, frequency of dental visits, time since last dental visit, access to dental care, dry mouth, and oral cancer screening. Each participant received an oral health screening based on the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors Basic Screening Survey for Older Adults. The examiners received hands-on training prior to the study to ensure the validity of the...
Research Interests:
Purpose: Infrequent use of the Western health care by the Vietnamese may be explained by deeply-rooted traditional oral health beliefs and practices unique to the Asian culture. This study investigated Vietnamese oral health beliefs and... more
Purpose: Infrequent use of the Western health care by the Vietnamese may be explained by deeply-rooted traditional oral health beliefs and practices unique to the Asian culture. This study investigated Vietnamese oral health beliefs and practices and their relationship to the utilization of Western preventive oral health care services among Vietnamese-Americans.Methods: An exploratory, cross-sectional survey design with a convenience sample of 140 par-ticipants (n = 140) was used for this study. Participants were recruited on site of a Vietnamese-owned business, with questionnaires consisting of 28 questions that were distributed in hard copy by the principal investigator (PI) on multiple occasions and at various times of the day.Results: Spearman Rank Correlations tests showed participants who agreed with the statement, "Regular dental visits will help prevent dental problems," were more likely to utilize medical health services (p< 0.05) and visit a dentist if their &...
Research Interests:
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental anxiety and missed dental appointments due to dental anxiety among patients within three types of private dental offices.Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional... more
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental anxiety and missed dental appointments due to dental anxiety among patients within three types of private dental offices.Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study utilized the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). The MDAS consists of five questions to assess dental anxiety. Demographics and an open-ended question about missed dental appointments due to dental anxiety were included. Linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze anxiety scores as related to gender and age. Participants' responses to the open-ended question were compiled according to themes.Results: Three hundred and eight (n=308) dental patients participated in the study. Using the MDAS cut-off scores of 15 and 19, the prevalence estimates of moderate to high and high dental anxiety within the total study population was 19% and 6.82% respectively. Females had an MDAS score 2.12 times higher than males (p<0.05). For ev...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
As dental professionals become increasingly aware of the association between systemic and oral health, the importance of addressing systemic nutrition issues takes on a new urgency. Nutrition is one of the modifiable factors that impact... more
As dental professionals become increasingly aware of the association between systemic and oral health, the importance of addressing systemic nutrition issues takes on a new urgency. Nutrition is one of the modifiable factors that impact the host's immune response and the integrity of the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. While nutrient deficiencies are rare in the general population of the United States, there are patient populations at high risk for nutritional inadequacies. Many of these medically compromised people are seen in dental practices on a daily basis. This article will also offer some basic recommendations for nutrition counseling.
Research Interests:
Patients with complicated disease and medication histories are being seen with increasing frequency in the dental office. Many are at high nutritional risk, which can impact their oral health status. Nutrition is an integral part of... more
Patients with complicated disease and medication histories are being seen with increasing frequency in the dental office. Many are at high nutritional risk, which can impact their oral health status. Nutrition is an integral part of health promotion and prevention, but it often is a poorly utilized component of preventive dentistry. This article provides the dental hygienist with a systematic approach to determining which patients are in need of nutrition intervention, and discusses screening, assessment, counseling, and referral. Dental hygienists, as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, are in an ideal position to identify patients at nutritional and oral health risk, help them attain optimal oral and general health, and improve overall quality of life.