Oral Manifestations of Menopause: An Interprofessional Intervention for Dental Hygiene and Physician Assistant Students.

Purpose: Interprofessional education (IPE) is a means of fostering integration and collaboration between health care professions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an IPE educational module on dental hygiene (DH) and physician assistants (PA) students' knowledge of the oral manifestations of menopause and overall confidence in treating these conditions.Methods: A convenience sample of DH and PA students was used for this mixed-method study. Quantitative data was collected with pre- and post-tests using a modified Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Survey (RIPLS) and a principle investigator (PI)-designed knowledge of menopause test, to determine the students' attitudes and learning levels. Students participated in a one-time workshop that included an educational presentation on the oral manifestations of menopause and a case study exercise using a pseudo-standardized patient. Students from both disciplines, worked in preselected groups to create a patient care plan addressing the oral manifestations of menopause. Qualitative data was collected from student comments.Results: Study results indicate an increase in participants' knowledge of the oral manifestations of menopause (p<0.05). Results also suggest improved attitudes toward interprofessional teamwork and collaboration (p<0.05), positive professional identity (p<0.05), roles and responsibilities (p<0.05) for IPEC core competencies RR1, RR2, RR3, RR4, interprofessional communication (p<0.05) for IPEC core competencies CC3, CC4, CC 6. Qualitative data from interprofessional care plan formulation and debriefing demonstrated facilitation of gained confidence in applying new skills related to the oral manifestations of menopause.Conclusion: Patients experiencing menopause are susceptible to oral manifestations. Implementation of an IPE intervention demonstrated correlation between an IPE experience and participants' knowledge, attitudes and confidence. Preparing students to meet the needs of menopausal women may ultimately decrease oral discomfort and improve overall quality of life.

Interdisciplinary approach to care: the role of the dental hygienist on a pediatric feeding team.

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 inclusion. RESULTS: Participants identified 33 items for possible inclusion in the role of the dental hygienist in Round 1 and reached consensus in identifying specific roles for the dental hygienist in all 7 elements of care coordination in Round 2. CONCLUSION: Members of the WSCFTs believe the dental hygienist's role in an interdisciplinary approach to care would encompass all elements of care coordination. These findings may provide a framework for future implementation of a model for integrating dental hygienists into this multidisciplinary team.

Interface with a community feeding team to address oral health of special needs children: a pilot project.

PURPOSE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: This project suggests there is a role for the dental hygienist on the feeding team to provide preventive dental care and referral as well as education for caregivers and therapists. Future research is needed to further delineate the role of the dental hygienist on the feeding team as well as implementation of a model for integrating them into this multidisciplinary team.