100 Years of Dental Hygiene Research: Progress and possibilities.

During the last century, the role of dental hygienists as leaders in the recognition, prevention, and treatment of oral diseases has grown, reflecting the ever-evolving knowledge base of the profession. The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) has contributed to and supported research that has formulated the scientific basis for the profession to inform education and practice. Progress has been made across multiple priority areas identified on the National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda, including educational research examining the impact of curriculum models on teaching and learning; health services research projects documenting workforce issues and cost-effectiveness of practice models; and public health initiatives expanding access to care to provide oral health care services for diverse patient populations. The Journal of Dental Hygiene, established in 1927, has played a significant role in disseminating scientific evidence to the global dental hygiene and professional communities. Collaborative efforts both within dental hygiene and externally with interprofessional partners and key stakeholders have positively contributed towards building the research infrastructure to support the profession. The number of dental hygienists who are actively engaged in research has increased, as has the value for research as part of the research culture. Focused research priorities and training efforts have encouraged collaborations across the globe to conduct and promote the science supporting dental hygiene education and practice. Development, testing and validation of theoretical frameworks is essential to drive all professional activities. Building a community of scholars who will continue to define the dental hygiene discipline through scholarship is critical to promote a scholarly identity for the profession.

The use of social media in dental hygiene programs: a survey of program directors.

PURPOSE: The use of social media and social networking sites has become increasingly common by the current generation of students. Colleges and universities are using social media and social networking sites to advertise, engage and recruit prospective students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how social media is being used in dental hygiene program admissions and policy. METHODS: Researchers developed a survey instrument investigating the use of social media. The survey included questions about demographic information, personal use of social media, program use of social media, social media use in admissions and social media policies. An email was sent to 321 dental hygiene program directors asking them to complete the survey. All participants were provided 4 weeks to complete the survey, and 2 reminder emails were sent. RESULTS: A total of 155 responses were received (48.3% response rate). While 84% of respondents indicated their program had a web page, only 20% had an official Facebook page for the program and 2% had a Twitter page. Thirty-five percent had a program policy specifically addressing the use of social media and 31% indicated that their university or institution had a policy. Only 4% of programs evaluate a potential student's Internet presence, mostly by searching on Facebook. Statistically significant differences (p≤0.05) were noted between those respondents with more personal social media accounts and those with fewer accounts, as those with more accounts were more likely to evaluate a potential student's Internet presence. Open ended responses included concern about social media issues, but some uncertainty on how to handle social media in the program. The concern for social media and professionalism was evident and more research and discussion in this area is warranted. CONCLUSION: Social media is currently being used in a variety of ways in dental hygiene programs, but not in the area of admissions. There is some uncertainty about the role social media should play in a professional environment.

The attitudes of Ohio dentists and dental hygienists regarding the use of automated external defibrillators in the dental setting--a follow-up study.

PURPOSE: In 2004, the attitudes toward and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) by Ohio dental professionals were examined. While willing to use an AED, most did not have access to one. With new AED-related legislation and increased awareness of the benefits of AEDs since the initial study in 2004, the purpose of this study was to document the prevalence of and attitudes toward AED usage in the dental setting 7 years following the initial study. METHODS: A 2 page survey instrument was mailed to a random sample of 1,629 dentists and 1,801 dental hygienists in Ohio. RESULTS: A 24% overall response rate was achieved (36% dentists and 64% hygienists). Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results indicate 16% of respondents experienced a cardiac emergency in their practice that required contacting emergency personnel. AEDs are available in 48% of dental practices. Comparing the 2004 and 2011 data, statistically significant differences were found between the responses of dentists and dental hygienists. CONCLUSION: While hygienists reported more positive attitudes toward AEDs than dentists, the majority of all respondents feel AEDs should be mandated in the dental setting. These findings suggest an increase in cardiac emergencies in Ohio dental settings, an increase in the prevalence of AEDs in Ohio dental settings and that the perceptions of dental professionals are changing in favor of the use of AEDs in the dental setting since the 2004 study.

Attitudes of Ohio dentists and dental hygienists on the use of automated external defibrillators.

The American Heart Association reports that approximately 220,000 people die each year of sudden cardiac arrest. In ventricular fibrillation (VF), the most common abnormal heart rhythm that causes cardiac arrest, the heart's electrical impulses suddenly become chaotic, often without warning. Death will follow within minutes if the victim is not treated appropriately, and the only known treatment is defibrillation. An automated external defibrillator (AED) can restore a victim's normal heart rhythm by providing defibrillation. The purpose of this study was to gather data from dentists and dental hygienists in Ohio on their use of and attitudes toward using AEDs in dental offices. Six percent of Ohio dentists and dental hygienists were randomly selected to receive a twenty-three question survey related to their use of and attitudes toward their use of AEDs in dental offices. Thirty-three percent (244) of the surveys were returned; 41 percent of the respondents were dentists, and 59 percent were dental hygienists. Six percent said they have had to administer nitroglycerin to a patient during a dental visit; 5 percent have performed CPR on a patient in the dental office; and 78 percent said their last CPR training course included training on an AED. Eleven percent said there was an AED at their dental office. With the increased likelihood of dealing with a cardiac emergency in the dental office setting and the willingness of dental professionals to use an AED, all dental offices should consider obtaining an AED. Dental educators should become familiar with current protocols for handling cardiac medical emergencies in the dental office and prepare dental and dental hygiene students with the skills necessary to manage patients with cardiac emergencies. Graduating dental students entering private practice may want to consider the AED as part of their medical emergency office protocol.