Abstract
Purpose: A total of 40 states to date have expanded the role of dental hygienists with the goal of improving access to basic oral health services for underserved populations. In Kansas, legislative changes have resulted in the Extended Care Permit (ECP) designation. The purpose of this study is to describe the experiences of registered dental hygienists in Kansas holding ECP certificates (ECP RDH) as of July of 2014.
Methods: Secondary data analysis was performed utilizing data collected from a survey conducted in 2014 by Oral Health Kansas. All registered ECP RDH's were sent the 32-item survey via Survey Monkey®. Descriptive statistical analyses consisted of frequency distributions, and measures of central tendency. Inferential analyses using t-tests and ANOVA were conducted to compare groups.
Results: A total of 73 responses were received from the (n= 176) surveys that were e-mailed for a 41% response rate. Of the clinicians who responded, 80%, worked at least part-time and in school settings. The most consistent barriers to providing care were the inability to directly bill insurance (52%), financial sustainability (42%) and physical requirements (42%). Follow-up tests found significant differencs between clinician groups when examining barriers.
Conclusion: Although the ECP legislation appears to be expanding access to care for citizens in Kansas, significant barriers still exist in making this a viable model for oral healthcare delivery.
Footnotes
Paige M. McEvoy, RDH, MS, is a graduate of the Master of Science in dental hygiene education; Christopher J. Van Ness, PhD. is director of assessment, dental public health and behavioral science; Melanie L. Simmer-Beck, RDH, PhD is a professor and admission enhancement program director for dental public health and behavioral science; Bonnie G. Branson, RDH, PhD is a professor and director of external rotation sites for dental public health and behavioral; Cynthia C. Gadbury-Amyot, RDH, MS, EdD is a professor and director of distance education and faculty development; all at the University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Dentistry, Kansas City, MO.
Kathy Hunt, RDH, ECP II is the dental project director for Oral Health Kansas and project director for the Kansas Head Start Association Cavity Free Kids Program and the Kansas DHL for the Head Start Program of the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness.
This manuscript supports the NDHRA priority area, Population level: Access to care (interventions).
- Received July 26, 2016.
- Accepted March 14, 2017.
- Copyright © 2017 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association