Standardized Patients in Dental Hygiene Education

Abstract

Purpose Practice and evaluation of clinical skills in health professions education are essential for developing competent clinicians. Simulation education has emerged as a strategic intervention to achieve this outcome. The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygiene program directors’ knowledge and perceptions of standardized patients (SPs) and investigate current utilization of SPs in dental hygiene curricula across the United States (US).

Methods A cross-sectional, descriptive study was designed to survey dental hygiene program directors from the accredited dental hygiene programs in the US (n=334). A 22-item online survey was designed and included items on demographics, knowledge of SPs, current use of SPs, willingness to integrate SPs, perceived benefits and clinical skills impact, attitudes toward SPs as a curricular component, and perceived barriers to implementation. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; qualitative open-ended responses underwent thematic analysis via manual coding.

Results Ninety-four responses were received for a 28% response rate. Of the respondents, nearly half were unfamiliar with SPs in dental hygiene education (48%, n=41), and only 21% (n=18) integrated SPs into the curriculum. Most (83%, n=44) indicated willingness to collaborate with other health care educators to integrate SPs. Key perceived benefits identified were improving communication and patient interaction skills, assessing student clinical competence effectively, and providing realistic patient scenarios for practice. Barriers to SP integration included a lack of funding (56%, n=40), lack of actors for SP training (51%, n=36), and curriculum overload (51%, n=36).

Conclusion Program directors acknowledged that SPs could enhance clinical skills but unfamiliarity and barriers to integration may hinder adoption. These findings present an opportunity to share resources through interprofessional collaboration to support SP integration in dental hygiene programs. Future research should examine dental hygiene students’ perspectives on SP effectiveness compared to traditional methods and investigate best practices from dental hygiene programs that successfully integrate SPs.