Abstract
Purpose: The new Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP) profession is expected to increase access to oral health care for the general population, particularly in rural and underserved areas. In order for this strategy to be successful, the public must feel comfortable with the care provided by ADHPs and seek out their services, yet consumer receptivity has been overlooked in the literature. The current study explores comfort with ADHPs for one high-need state: Kentucky.
Methods: Consumer receptivity to the ADHP was assessed using a large, random sample telephone survey. As a point of comparison, respondents were first asked about their comfort with care provided by two other advanced practice clinicians already licensed in the state: advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and physician assistants (PA).
Results: After hearing a brief description of the profession, nearly 3 in 4 Kentucky adults said they would be somewhat (35.4%) or very (38.2%) comfortable seeing an ADHP for routine dental care. The total proportion of Kentucky adults who were comfortable seeking care from an ADHP (73.6%) was slightly less than the proportion indicating comfort seeing an APRN (79.7%) or PA (81.3%).
Conclusion: Overall, this study demonstrates that adults are receptive to new models of care delivery and report high levels of comfort with ADHPs. Consumer concerns are unlikely to be a barrier to expanded licensure for dental hygienists in high-need areas like Kentucky.
- advanced dental hygiene practitioner
- public opinion poll
- patient acceptance of health care
- patient preference
Footnotes
Sarah E. Walsh, PhD, CHES, is an Assistant Professor, Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services. Jennifer Chubinski, PhD, is Vice President, Innovation and Learning, Interact for Health. Toby Sallee, MA, is a Research Associate, Institute for Policy Research, University of Cincinnati. Eric W. Rademacher, PhD, is Co-Director, Institute for Policy Research, University of Cincinnati.
This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Health Services Research: Investigate how alternative models of dental hygiene care delivery can reduce health care inequalities.
- Copyright © 2016 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association