Anne Gwozdek - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Anne Gwozdek
Journal of Dental Education, Sep 1, 2017
The health care system is undergoing transformation in which oral health is not only valued as an... more The health care system is undergoing transformation in which oral health is not only valued as an aspect of overall health, but health care delivery systems are aligning to better deliver total patient care. As a result of this transformation, education for many non-dental professionals incorporates oral health content to prepare them to practice in comprehensive delivery models. While some non-dental professionals already incorporate oral health care in their service, many opportunities exist for expansion of oral health care delivery by other non-dental professionals, including radiologic technicians, nursing staff, and human services professionals. As non-dental professionals take on expanded roles in oral health care, the dental hygiene workforce must be prepared to practice in settings with new types of professionals. Dental hygiene curricula should prioritize interprofessional education to best prepare these students for practice in evolved delivery models. This article was written as part of the project "Advancing Dental Education in the 21 st Century."
Journal of Dental Education, Sep 1, 2016
In 2005, Public Act No. 161 (PA 161) was passed in Michigan, allowing dental hygienists to practi... more In 2005, Public Act No. 161 (PA 161) was passed in Michigan, allowing dental hygienists to practice in approved public dental prevention programs to provide services for underserved populations while utilizing a collaborative agreement with a supervising dentist. The aims of this study were to assess how well dental and dental hygiene students and faculty members and practicing dental hygienists have been educated about PA 161, what attitudes and knowledge about the act they have, and how interested they are in additional education about it. University of Michigan dental and dental hygiene students and faculty members, students in other Michigan dental hygiene programs, and dental hygienists in the state were surveyed. Respondents (response rate) were 160 dental students (50%), 63 dental hygiene students (82%), 30 dental faculty members (26%), and 12 dental hygiene faculty members (52%) at the University of Michigan; 143 dental hygiene students in other programs (20%); and 95 members of the Michigan Dental Hygienists' Association (10%). The results showed that the dental students were less educated about PA 161 than the dental hygiene students, and the dental faculty members were less informed than the dental hygiene faculty members and dental hygienists. Responding dental hygiene faculty members and dental hygienists had more positive attitudes about PA 161 than did the students and dental faculty members. Most of the dental hygiene faculty members and dental hygienists knew a person providing services in a PA 161 program. Most dental hygiene students, faculty members, and dental hygienists wanted more education about PA 161. Overall, the better educated about the program the respondents were, the more positive their attitudes, and the more interested they were in learning more.
Journal of Dental Education, Dec 1, 2015
Previous research has suggested that transformative learning can be fostered in higher education ... more Previous research has suggested that transformative learning can be fostered in higher education by creating active learning experiences that are directly related to content taught, are personally engaging, and can stimulate relection. The aim of this qualitative study was to assess changes experienced by students in an e-learning dental hygiene degree completion program beyond attainment of competence-changes that may be described as transformative learning. The data used were transcripts of focus groups that had been conducted with each of the irst ive cohorts of students to graduate from the program; a total of 30 of the 42 students in the ive cohorts (71%) participated. Using their previously developed Transformation Rubric for Engaged Learning, the authors categorized focus group data to identify changes in students' conidence, pride, skills, perceptions of the world, and personal identity at the transformative and nontransformative levels. Every participant reported at least one change; overall, the students averaged 8.3 changes. The vast majority (84%) of these changes were transformative. Middle-performing students showed a disproportionately higher rate of transformational changes in the areas of conidence and pride. The e-learning program appeared to have had a signiicant transformative impact on students, but additional research on the effect on middleperforming students is warranted.
Journal of Dental Education, Mar 1, 2011
Distance education offers an opportunity to catalyze sweeping curricular change. Faculty members ... more Distance education offers an opportunity to catalyze sweeping curricular change. Faculty members of the University of Michigan Dental Hygiene Program spent eighteen months researching best practices, planning outcomes and courses, and implementing an e-learning (online) dental hygiene degree completion program. The result is a collaborative and portfolio-integrated program that focuses on the development of relective practitioners and leaders in the profession. A team-based, systems-oriented model for production, implementation, and evaluation has been critical to the program's success. The models and best practices on which this program was founded are described. Also provided is a framework of strategies for development, including the utilization of backward course design, which can be used in many areas of professional education.
International Journal of ePortfolio, 2015
Evaluation and Education Services, LLC ePortfolios and other engaged learning experiences can hav... more Evaluation and Education Services, LLC ePortfolios and other engaged learning experiences can have extensive impact on students in many facets of their lives, such as subject-area learning, skill and competence development, perspectives on "how the world works," and even students' own identities, confidence, and needs. Assessing these various impacts can be a challenge for faculty and program developers. Existing methods can determine students' attainment of competence, but very little guidance exists to help leaders determine the impact of their programs on the affective aspects of learning, such as changes in perspective and identity. This paper describes the Transformation Rubric for Engaged Learning, a tool and methodology for examining a program's impact beyond competency attainment in a systematic, replicable manner. The Rubric can be used in addition to existing program assessment methods to give a more complete assessment of a variety of programs, from reflective ePortfolios to community service projects to degree-granting programs.
Journal of Dental Education, Apr 1, 2012
Program evaluation is a necessary component of curricular change and innovation. It ascertains wh... more Program evaluation is a necessary component of curricular change and innovation. It ascertains whether an innovation has met benchmarks and contributes to the body of knowledge about educational methodologies and supports the use of evidence-based practice in teaching. Education researchers argue that rigorous program evaluation should utilize a mixed-method approach, triangulating both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand program effectiveness. This approach was used to evaluate the University of Michigan Dental Hygiene Degree Completion E-Learning (online) Program. Quantitative data included time spent on coursework, grades, publications, course evaluation results, and survey responses. Qualitative data included student and faculty responses in focus groups and on surveys as well as students' portfolio relections. The results showed the program was academically rigorous, fostering students' ability to connect theory with practice and apply evidence-based practice principles. These results also demonstrated that the students had learned to critically relect on their practice and develop expanded professional identities; going beyond the role of clinician, they began to see themselves as educators, advocates, and researchers. This evaluation model is easily adaptable and is applicable to any health science or other professional degree program. This study also raised important questions regarding the effect of meta-relection on student conidence and professional behavior.
PubMed, 2013
There is a growing trend among college accreditation bodies, especially in professional schools, ... more There is a growing trend among college accreditation bodies, especially in professional schools, to incorporate self-assessment in the curriculum and deliver evidence of students' learning outcomes. Both as product and process, reflective ePortfolios have the potential to promote learning and transfer of knowledge by fostering the ability to make connections between learning outcomes and leaning experiences. This article describes a model for a program-wide integrated reflective ePortfolio developed by the University of Michigan Dental Hygiene Degree Completion E-Learning (online) Program. This systematic approach to developing a successful portfolio program can be utilized in many areas of professional health care education. Applying these strategies can result in an ePortfolio that has a positive impact on student learning, develops reflective practitioners, and provides valuable programmatic outcomes data.
Journal of dental hygiene : JDH, 2009
Reflecting upon and sharing of clinical experiences in dental hygiene education is a strategy use... more Reflecting upon and sharing of clinical experiences in dental hygiene education is a strategy used to support the application of didactic material to patient care. The promotion of interactive, clinically focused discussions creates opportunities for students to foster critical thinking and socialization skills in dental hygiene practice. Twenty-eight dental hygiene students in their first semester of patient care utilized online directed journaling via blogging software, as a reflection and sharing strategy. Journal entries found critical thinking and socialization themes including connection of didactic material to clinical experience, student-patient interaction, student-student collaboration, and a vision of the professional role of the dental hygienist. A 7 item evaluation instrument provided data that the online journaling strategy was perceived as effective and valuable by the students. Online directed journaling is a strategy that has the potential to enhance critical thinki...
Journal of Dental Education, 2012
Program evaluation is a necessary component of curricular change and innovation. It ascertains wh... more Program evaluation is a necessary component of curricular change and innovation. It ascertains whether an innovation has met benchmarks and contributes to the body of knowledge about educational methodologies and supports the use of evidence-based practice in teaching. Education researchers argue that rigorous program evaluation should utilize a mixed-method approach, triangulating both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand program effectiveness. This approach was used to evaluate the University of Michigan Dental Hygiene Degree Completion E-Learning (online) Program. Quantitative data included time spent on coursework, grades, publications, course evaluation results, and survey responses. Qualitative data included student and faculty responses in focus groups and on surveys as well as students' portfolio reflections. The results showed the program was academically rigorous, fostering students' ability to connect theory with practice and apply evidence-based pra...
Evaluation of scientific literature, promoting the delivery of evidence-based care, became the fo... more Evaluation of scientific literature, promoting the delivery of evidence-based care, became the focus of a group of dental hygiene colleagues. The "Journal Study Club " (JSC) was established from this concept. JSC members discuss and evaluate professional issues utilizing research-based literature. Topics include patient care, public health/access to care, technology, modalities of treatment, and professional issues. For each topic, one member serves as a program facilitator researching the scientific literature on an agreed upon topic, chooses appropriate articles, and disseminates the articles to the members to read prior to meeting. Discussion at the study club event follows the format of examining literature content, relevance, significance, evidence accuracy, and application to clinical practice. This process supports dental Hygienists ' commitment to life-long learning and the practice of evidence-based care, while providing a valuable venue for continuing dental...
Journal of dental hygiene : JDH, 2020
Purpose: Examining the long-term outcomes of education programs delivered online can help assess ... more Purpose: Examining the long-term outcomes of education programs delivered online can help assess the impact of the program on graduates and the value of the delivery format. The purpose of this study was to measure the overall outcomes of an online dental hygiene degree completion program and identify key alumni outcomes.Methods: A 35 item electronic survey was delivered via email to all graduates (2009-2017) of an online degree completion program based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, two years following program completion. Survey items included Likert scale, closed and open-ended questions focusing on career characteristics, leadership, scholarly activities, evidence- and community-based practices, professional confidence, and transformative learning. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.Results: Of the nine alumni cohorts (n=75), 50 graduates participated in the survey for a response rate of 67%. Eighty-two percent of respondents felt they had more career o...
Journal of dental hygiene : JDH, 2017
Purpose: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, patient-centered counseling approac... more Purpose: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, patient-centered counseling approach for eliciting behavior change. In 2012, the University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Program significantly enhanced their behavior change curriculum by reinforcing and building upon the Motivational Interviewing segment. The purpose of this study was to examine students' perceptions of the importance of MI and their confidence in applying it during patient care.Methods: A convenience sample of 22 U-M Class of 2015 dental hygiene students who had received an enhanced curriculum participated in this study, utilizing a retrospective, pre-test/post-test design.Results: A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the differences in average ranks between T1 (Retrospective Pre-Test) and T4 (Post-Test 3) for the importance and confidence questions at each time point for the Class of 2015. Students' perceptions of importance increased with statistical significance in five out of ...
Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society, 2014
Journal of allied health, 2016
The University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Program collaborated with the U-M School of Socia... more The University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Program collaborated with the U-M School of Social Work in developing a course entitled "Skills for Patient- and Family-Centered Care with Diverse Populations." Drawing upon disciplines including dentistry, social work, psychology, and sociology, this course transformed mandatory outreach rotations in safety-net dental settings from a freestanding senior-year experience to an integrated part of the dental hygiene curriculum. The course provided a space in which to discuss the interpersonal aspects of patient care, particularly those related to the social determinants of health. Among the students, a broad range of emotions, frustrations, and hopes were evident, suggesting that there is a need for forums through which students can connect their affective experiences to their practice of patient-centered care. While the course was designed for bachelor's level dental hygiene students, the content and process presented in th...
PURPOSE Using John Kingdon's agenda-setting model, this paper explores how Minnesota came to ... more PURPOSE Using John Kingdon's agenda-setting model, this paper explores how Minnesota came to legislate a mid-level dental practitioner to its oral health workforce. Using a pluralist framework embracing the existence of various interests and convictions, this analysis highlights the roles of issue formation, agenda setting and politics in policymaking. METHODS Using Kingdon's agenda-setting model as a theoretical lens, and applying case study methodology, this paper analyzes how Minnesota came to legislate a mid-level dental practitione to its oral health workforce. Data have come from scholarly research, governmental and foundation agency reports, interviews with leaders involved in the mid-level dental practitioner initiative, news articles, and Minnesota statute. RESULTS After 2 years of contentious and challenging legislative initiatives, the problem, policy and political streams converged and aligned with the compromise passage of a bill legalizing mid-level dental prac...
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess dentists' and dental hygienists' current... more Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess dentists' and dental hygienists' current motivation, attitudes, and knowledge regarding volunteering in a non-profit dental setting and the opportunity for earning continuing education (CE) credits.Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed a convenience sample of dental and dental hygiene professionals from the state of Michigan. A 20-question paper survey was developed and pilot tested. The survey was disseminated to attendees at various component meetings of the dental and dental hygienists' associations in southeastern Michigan.Results: Out of the 274 surveys that were distributed, 182 (n=182) were completed, yielding a 66% response rate. Eighty percent of the participants were unaware of the opportunity for earning CE by volunteering and 79% were unaware of the volunteering site approval requirement by the Michigan Board of Dentistry. Thirty percent of participants were unable to determine how many unpaid days per y...
PURPOSE Children from low-income families and ethnic minority groups are associated with an incre... more PURPOSE Children from low-income families and ethnic minority groups are associated with an increased risk of developing dental disease and are often enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutritional program. It has been an intention of the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Oral Health Program (OHP) to collaborate with WIC to provide preventive oral health resources and education to their population. This project focused on achieving the goals outlined in the Michigan 2010 State Oral Health Plan. METHODS An 18 question survey was designed to identify gaps existing in oral health counseling in Michigan WIC agencies. The survey was disseminated to 56 MI WIC agencies. RESULTS WIC providers perceive oral health risk assessment to be important and are asking oral health questions during certification and re-certification appointments. Seventy-nine percent of participants indicated they never had training in oral health counseling, and 79% are interested in learni...
Journal of dental hygiene : JDH, 2017
The purpose of this study was to explore the use of loupes and lights in dental hygiene programs,... more The purpose of this study was to explore the use of loupes and lights in dental hygiene programs, to assess why they are being used, and to evaluate at what point in time they are introduced to students within the curriculum.A 20 question survey was developed and pilot tested. The survey was disseminated electronically to 335 dental hygiene program directors in the United States. Frequency distributions were analyzed to provide an overview of the data and Fisher's Exact Test was used to investigate differences between technical/community college programs and university-based programs.Out of the 335 electronic surveys, 143 were completed for a response rate of 47%. Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomics, and enhanced vision for instrumentation remain the top three advantages of using loupes. Ninety-six percent of respondents indicated students use loupes and over 50% of faculty use loupes. Fifty-seven percent of dental hygiene programs encourage students to purchase ...
Journal of dental hygiene : JDH, 2017
The purpose of this study was to investigate key factors associated with the economic sustainabil... more The purpose of this study was to investigate key factors associated with the economic sustainability of the Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP).An invitation to participate in a 38-question electronic survey was sent via postal mail to 440 RDHAP licentiate addressees obtained through the Dental Hygiene Committee of California (DHCC). Legal restrictions did not allow for obtaining the RDHAP licentiate email addresses from the DHCC. The survey was disseminated via email to the 254 RDHAPs who were members of the California Dental Hygienists' Association. Additional invitations to participate were made via flyer distribution at an RDHAP symposium, and on RDHAP only social media sites.The response rate was an estimated 16%. While 44% of the RDHAPs reported some employment in a traditional dental practice, given the opportunity, 61% of these respondents indicated that they would practice exclusively as an RDHAP. With regard to practice strategic planning and al...
Journal of Dental Education, Sep 1, 2017
The health care system is undergoing transformation in which oral health is not only valued as an... more The health care system is undergoing transformation in which oral health is not only valued as an aspect of overall health, but health care delivery systems are aligning to better deliver total patient care. As a result of this transformation, education for many non-dental professionals incorporates oral health content to prepare them to practice in comprehensive delivery models. While some non-dental professionals already incorporate oral health care in their service, many opportunities exist for expansion of oral health care delivery by other non-dental professionals, including radiologic technicians, nursing staff, and human services professionals. As non-dental professionals take on expanded roles in oral health care, the dental hygiene workforce must be prepared to practice in settings with new types of professionals. Dental hygiene curricula should prioritize interprofessional education to best prepare these students for practice in evolved delivery models. This article was written as part of the project "Advancing Dental Education in the 21 st Century."
Journal of Dental Education, Sep 1, 2016
In 2005, Public Act No. 161 (PA 161) was passed in Michigan, allowing dental hygienists to practi... more In 2005, Public Act No. 161 (PA 161) was passed in Michigan, allowing dental hygienists to practice in approved public dental prevention programs to provide services for underserved populations while utilizing a collaborative agreement with a supervising dentist. The aims of this study were to assess how well dental and dental hygiene students and faculty members and practicing dental hygienists have been educated about PA 161, what attitudes and knowledge about the act they have, and how interested they are in additional education about it. University of Michigan dental and dental hygiene students and faculty members, students in other Michigan dental hygiene programs, and dental hygienists in the state were surveyed. Respondents (response rate) were 160 dental students (50%), 63 dental hygiene students (82%), 30 dental faculty members (26%), and 12 dental hygiene faculty members (52%) at the University of Michigan; 143 dental hygiene students in other programs (20%); and 95 members of the Michigan Dental Hygienists' Association (10%). The results showed that the dental students were less educated about PA 161 than the dental hygiene students, and the dental faculty members were less informed than the dental hygiene faculty members and dental hygienists. Responding dental hygiene faculty members and dental hygienists had more positive attitudes about PA 161 than did the students and dental faculty members. Most of the dental hygiene faculty members and dental hygienists knew a person providing services in a PA 161 program. Most dental hygiene students, faculty members, and dental hygienists wanted more education about PA 161. Overall, the better educated about the program the respondents were, the more positive their attitudes, and the more interested they were in learning more.
Journal of Dental Education, Dec 1, 2015
Previous research has suggested that transformative learning can be fostered in higher education ... more Previous research has suggested that transformative learning can be fostered in higher education by creating active learning experiences that are directly related to content taught, are personally engaging, and can stimulate relection. The aim of this qualitative study was to assess changes experienced by students in an e-learning dental hygiene degree completion program beyond attainment of competence-changes that may be described as transformative learning. The data used were transcripts of focus groups that had been conducted with each of the irst ive cohorts of students to graduate from the program; a total of 30 of the 42 students in the ive cohorts (71%) participated. Using their previously developed Transformation Rubric for Engaged Learning, the authors categorized focus group data to identify changes in students' conidence, pride, skills, perceptions of the world, and personal identity at the transformative and nontransformative levels. Every participant reported at least one change; overall, the students averaged 8.3 changes. The vast majority (84%) of these changes were transformative. Middle-performing students showed a disproportionately higher rate of transformational changes in the areas of conidence and pride. The e-learning program appeared to have had a signiicant transformative impact on students, but additional research on the effect on middleperforming students is warranted.
Journal of Dental Education, Mar 1, 2011
Distance education offers an opportunity to catalyze sweeping curricular change. Faculty members ... more Distance education offers an opportunity to catalyze sweeping curricular change. Faculty members of the University of Michigan Dental Hygiene Program spent eighteen months researching best practices, planning outcomes and courses, and implementing an e-learning (online) dental hygiene degree completion program. The result is a collaborative and portfolio-integrated program that focuses on the development of relective practitioners and leaders in the profession. A team-based, systems-oriented model for production, implementation, and evaluation has been critical to the program's success. The models and best practices on which this program was founded are described. Also provided is a framework of strategies for development, including the utilization of backward course design, which can be used in many areas of professional education.
International Journal of ePortfolio, 2015
Evaluation and Education Services, LLC ePortfolios and other engaged learning experiences can hav... more Evaluation and Education Services, LLC ePortfolios and other engaged learning experiences can have extensive impact on students in many facets of their lives, such as subject-area learning, skill and competence development, perspectives on "how the world works," and even students' own identities, confidence, and needs. Assessing these various impacts can be a challenge for faculty and program developers. Existing methods can determine students' attainment of competence, but very little guidance exists to help leaders determine the impact of their programs on the affective aspects of learning, such as changes in perspective and identity. This paper describes the Transformation Rubric for Engaged Learning, a tool and methodology for examining a program's impact beyond competency attainment in a systematic, replicable manner. The Rubric can be used in addition to existing program assessment methods to give a more complete assessment of a variety of programs, from reflective ePortfolios to community service projects to degree-granting programs.
Journal of Dental Education, Apr 1, 2012
Program evaluation is a necessary component of curricular change and innovation. It ascertains wh... more Program evaluation is a necessary component of curricular change and innovation. It ascertains whether an innovation has met benchmarks and contributes to the body of knowledge about educational methodologies and supports the use of evidence-based practice in teaching. Education researchers argue that rigorous program evaluation should utilize a mixed-method approach, triangulating both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand program effectiveness. This approach was used to evaluate the University of Michigan Dental Hygiene Degree Completion E-Learning (online) Program. Quantitative data included time spent on coursework, grades, publications, course evaluation results, and survey responses. Qualitative data included student and faculty responses in focus groups and on surveys as well as students' portfolio relections. The results showed the program was academically rigorous, fostering students' ability to connect theory with practice and apply evidence-based practice principles. These results also demonstrated that the students had learned to critically relect on their practice and develop expanded professional identities; going beyond the role of clinician, they began to see themselves as educators, advocates, and researchers. This evaluation model is easily adaptable and is applicable to any health science or other professional degree program. This study also raised important questions regarding the effect of meta-relection on student conidence and professional behavior.
PubMed, 2013
There is a growing trend among college accreditation bodies, especially in professional schools, ... more There is a growing trend among college accreditation bodies, especially in professional schools, to incorporate self-assessment in the curriculum and deliver evidence of students' learning outcomes. Both as product and process, reflective ePortfolios have the potential to promote learning and transfer of knowledge by fostering the ability to make connections between learning outcomes and leaning experiences. This article describes a model for a program-wide integrated reflective ePortfolio developed by the University of Michigan Dental Hygiene Degree Completion E-Learning (online) Program. This systematic approach to developing a successful portfolio program can be utilized in many areas of professional health care education. Applying these strategies can result in an ePortfolio that has a positive impact on student learning, develops reflective practitioners, and provides valuable programmatic outcomes data.
Journal of dental hygiene : JDH, 2009
Reflecting upon and sharing of clinical experiences in dental hygiene education is a strategy use... more Reflecting upon and sharing of clinical experiences in dental hygiene education is a strategy used to support the application of didactic material to patient care. The promotion of interactive, clinically focused discussions creates opportunities for students to foster critical thinking and socialization skills in dental hygiene practice. Twenty-eight dental hygiene students in their first semester of patient care utilized online directed journaling via blogging software, as a reflection and sharing strategy. Journal entries found critical thinking and socialization themes including connection of didactic material to clinical experience, student-patient interaction, student-student collaboration, and a vision of the professional role of the dental hygienist. A 7 item evaluation instrument provided data that the online journaling strategy was perceived as effective and valuable by the students. Online directed journaling is a strategy that has the potential to enhance critical thinki...
Journal of Dental Education, 2012
Program evaluation is a necessary component of curricular change and innovation. It ascertains wh... more Program evaluation is a necessary component of curricular change and innovation. It ascertains whether an innovation has met benchmarks and contributes to the body of knowledge about educational methodologies and supports the use of evidence-based practice in teaching. Education researchers argue that rigorous program evaluation should utilize a mixed-method approach, triangulating both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand program effectiveness. This approach was used to evaluate the University of Michigan Dental Hygiene Degree Completion E-Learning (online) Program. Quantitative data included time spent on coursework, grades, publications, course evaluation results, and survey responses. Qualitative data included student and faculty responses in focus groups and on surveys as well as students' portfolio reflections. The results showed the program was academically rigorous, fostering students' ability to connect theory with practice and apply evidence-based pra...
Evaluation of scientific literature, promoting the delivery of evidence-based care, became the fo... more Evaluation of scientific literature, promoting the delivery of evidence-based care, became the focus of a group of dental hygiene colleagues. The "Journal Study Club " (JSC) was established from this concept. JSC members discuss and evaluate professional issues utilizing research-based literature. Topics include patient care, public health/access to care, technology, modalities of treatment, and professional issues. For each topic, one member serves as a program facilitator researching the scientific literature on an agreed upon topic, chooses appropriate articles, and disseminates the articles to the members to read prior to meeting. Discussion at the study club event follows the format of examining literature content, relevance, significance, evidence accuracy, and application to clinical practice. This process supports dental Hygienists ' commitment to life-long learning and the practice of evidence-based care, while providing a valuable venue for continuing dental...
Journal of dental hygiene : JDH, 2020
Purpose: Examining the long-term outcomes of education programs delivered online can help assess ... more Purpose: Examining the long-term outcomes of education programs delivered online can help assess the impact of the program on graduates and the value of the delivery format. The purpose of this study was to measure the overall outcomes of an online dental hygiene degree completion program and identify key alumni outcomes.Methods: A 35 item electronic survey was delivered via email to all graduates (2009-2017) of an online degree completion program based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, two years following program completion. Survey items included Likert scale, closed and open-ended questions focusing on career characteristics, leadership, scholarly activities, evidence- and community-based practices, professional confidence, and transformative learning. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.Results: Of the nine alumni cohorts (n=75), 50 graduates participated in the survey for a response rate of 67%. Eighty-two percent of respondents felt they had more career o...
Journal of dental hygiene : JDH, 2017
Purpose: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, patient-centered counseling approac... more Purpose: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, patient-centered counseling approach for eliciting behavior change. In 2012, the University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Program significantly enhanced their behavior change curriculum by reinforcing and building upon the Motivational Interviewing segment. The purpose of this study was to examine students' perceptions of the importance of MI and their confidence in applying it during patient care.Methods: A convenience sample of 22 U-M Class of 2015 dental hygiene students who had received an enhanced curriculum participated in this study, utilizing a retrospective, pre-test/post-test design.Results: A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the differences in average ranks between T1 (Retrospective Pre-Test) and T4 (Post-Test 3) for the importance and confidence questions at each time point for the Class of 2015. Students' perceptions of importance increased with statistical significance in five out of ...
Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society, 2014
Journal of allied health, 2016
The University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Program collaborated with the U-M School of Socia... more The University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Program collaborated with the U-M School of Social Work in developing a course entitled "Skills for Patient- and Family-Centered Care with Diverse Populations." Drawing upon disciplines including dentistry, social work, psychology, and sociology, this course transformed mandatory outreach rotations in safety-net dental settings from a freestanding senior-year experience to an integrated part of the dental hygiene curriculum. The course provided a space in which to discuss the interpersonal aspects of patient care, particularly those related to the social determinants of health. Among the students, a broad range of emotions, frustrations, and hopes were evident, suggesting that there is a need for forums through which students can connect their affective experiences to their practice of patient-centered care. While the course was designed for bachelor's level dental hygiene students, the content and process presented in th...
PURPOSE Using John Kingdon's agenda-setting model, this paper explores how Minnesota came to ... more PURPOSE Using John Kingdon's agenda-setting model, this paper explores how Minnesota came to legislate a mid-level dental practitioner to its oral health workforce. Using a pluralist framework embracing the existence of various interests and convictions, this analysis highlights the roles of issue formation, agenda setting and politics in policymaking. METHODS Using Kingdon's agenda-setting model as a theoretical lens, and applying case study methodology, this paper analyzes how Minnesota came to legislate a mid-level dental practitione to its oral health workforce. Data have come from scholarly research, governmental and foundation agency reports, interviews with leaders involved in the mid-level dental practitioner initiative, news articles, and Minnesota statute. RESULTS After 2 years of contentious and challenging legislative initiatives, the problem, policy and political streams converged and aligned with the compromise passage of a bill legalizing mid-level dental prac...
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess dentists' and dental hygienists' current... more Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess dentists' and dental hygienists' current motivation, attitudes, and knowledge regarding volunteering in a non-profit dental setting and the opportunity for earning continuing education (CE) credits.Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed a convenience sample of dental and dental hygiene professionals from the state of Michigan. A 20-question paper survey was developed and pilot tested. The survey was disseminated to attendees at various component meetings of the dental and dental hygienists' associations in southeastern Michigan.Results: Out of the 274 surveys that were distributed, 182 (n=182) were completed, yielding a 66% response rate. Eighty percent of the participants were unaware of the opportunity for earning CE by volunteering and 79% were unaware of the volunteering site approval requirement by the Michigan Board of Dentistry. Thirty percent of participants were unable to determine how many unpaid days per y...
PURPOSE Children from low-income families and ethnic minority groups are associated with an incre... more PURPOSE Children from low-income families and ethnic minority groups are associated with an increased risk of developing dental disease and are often enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutritional program. It has been an intention of the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Oral Health Program (OHP) to collaborate with WIC to provide preventive oral health resources and education to their population. This project focused on achieving the goals outlined in the Michigan 2010 State Oral Health Plan. METHODS An 18 question survey was designed to identify gaps existing in oral health counseling in Michigan WIC agencies. The survey was disseminated to 56 MI WIC agencies. RESULTS WIC providers perceive oral health risk assessment to be important and are asking oral health questions during certification and re-certification appointments. Seventy-nine percent of participants indicated they never had training in oral health counseling, and 79% are interested in learni...
Journal of dental hygiene : JDH, 2017
The purpose of this study was to explore the use of loupes and lights in dental hygiene programs,... more The purpose of this study was to explore the use of loupes and lights in dental hygiene programs, to assess why they are being used, and to evaluate at what point in time they are introduced to students within the curriculum.A 20 question survey was developed and pilot tested. The survey was disseminated electronically to 335 dental hygiene program directors in the United States. Frequency distributions were analyzed to provide an overview of the data and Fisher's Exact Test was used to investigate differences between technical/community college programs and university-based programs.Out of the 335 electronic surveys, 143 were completed for a response rate of 47%. Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomics, and enhanced vision for instrumentation remain the top three advantages of using loupes. Ninety-six percent of respondents indicated students use loupes and over 50% of faculty use loupes. Fifty-seven percent of dental hygiene programs encourage students to purchase ...
Journal of dental hygiene : JDH, 2017
The purpose of this study was to investigate key factors associated with the economic sustainabil... more The purpose of this study was to investigate key factors associated with the economic sustainability of the Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP).An invitation to participate in a 38-question electronic survey was sent via postal mail to 440 RDHAP licentiate addressees obtained through the Dental Hygiene Committee of California (DHCC). Legal restrictions did not allow for obtaining the RDHAP licentiate email addresses from the DHCC. The survey was disseminated via email to the 254 RDHAPs who were members of the California Dental Hygienists' Association. Additional invitations to participate were made via flyer distribution at an RDHAP symposium, and on RDHAP only social media sites.The response rate was an estimated 16%. While 44% of the RDHAPs reported some employment in a traditional dental practice, given the opportunity, 61% of these respondents indicated that they would practice exclusively as an RDHAP. With regard to practice strategic planning and al...