Experiences, Knowledge and Perceptions of Dental Hygienists, in the Treatment of Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Purpose: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops in individuals who have experienced a life-threatening event. Previous research has revealed patients diagnosed with PTSD are at increased risk for temporomandibular disorders and dental anxiety. However, the knowledge level of dental hygienists (DHs), regarding PTSD, and their treatment modifications for these patients is unknown. This study sought to evaluate DHs' knowledge of PTSD, and to understand their approach to treating patients with this condition.Methods: Convenience and purposive sampling techniques were used to recruit actively practicing DHs via social media websites. Data was collected using a previously validated online survey, which assessed participants' knowledge of PTSD, and their approach to care for patients suffering from the condition. Descriptive statistics and a Spearman's Rho analysis were used to analyze the data.Results: A total of 362 participants opened the survey for a 94% completion rate (n=342). Participants estimated that 15% of the adults they treated each week suffered from some form of PTSD. Overall, participants recognized that these patients were at moderate to high risk for dental anxiety (91.8%, n=313), and temporomandibular disorders (88.72%, n=33). However, most participants (58.4%, n=192) had not received any education regarding PTSD or how to care for patients with this condition.Conclusion: Results suggest that education on PTSD and its impact on oral health should be incorporated into the dental hygiene curriculum to better prepare graduates to care for this patient population. Continuing education courses should be developed to focus on the special needs of patients suffering from PTSD, so oral health care providers are able to recognize risk factors for the condition and develop effective treatment approaches for these patients.

Hispanic Seasonal Farmworker Caregivers' Beliefs and Perceptions of Early Childhood Caries.

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 change (50%); pathophysiology: not brushing daily (75%); course of disease/impact on daily life: appearance (40%); impact of caries on child's future health: affects child until adult teeth erupt (25%); treatment for pain: tooth brushing (55%). Over half of the respondents (55%) indicated that getting dental care for their children was a priority.Conclusion: Results from this study showed that Hispanic seasonal farmworkers have a desire to maintain their children's oral health. However, they lacked knowledge in some key concepts related to the disease process and prevention of ECC. Caregivers need additional oral health education with consideration for oral health literacy.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Children: An Assessment of the Relationship between Child and Caregiver Reporting.

Purpose: Oral and craniofacial conditions or diseases can impact an individual's health and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to assess the perceived oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children, and evaluate the reported level of agreement between caregivers and their children.Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit children ages 8-15, and their caregivers from a dental clinic in a pediatric hospital for this descriptive, cross-sectional study. A modified version of a validated measure, Child Oral Health Impact Profile-Short Form (COHIP-SF), was used for a 22-item questionnaire encompassing three subscales: oral health, functional well-being, and social emotional well-being. Two additional items were included to assess child/caregiver's level of agreement. A dental chart review was also conducted to assess the child's overbite, overjet, and decayed surfaces. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and examined for assumptions of normality and linearity.Results: Sixty child/caregiver pairs (n=120) participated in this study. Overbite, overjet and decayed surfaces were not found to be related to any OHRQoL variable, including child/caregiver ratings and overall agreement (p>.05). Average OHRQoL scores for caregivers found to be more positive those of their children (p=.02). Agreement between caregivers and the child's gender was shown to be significant (p=.01). Female child scores differed significantly from males with respect to their caregiver responses (p=.02). Caregivers rated a higher OHRQoL for female children, thus overestimating their female child's reported OHRQoL.Conclusions: The moderate level of agreement found between children and caregivers reinforces the importance of including the child, as well as the caregiver, when assessing OHRQoL.

Assessing Student Satisfaction with Face-to-Face Synchronous Distance Education in a Dental Hygiene Program.

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.