Synergy in Social Action: A Dental Hygiene Theory

Abstract

Purpose: The intent of this qualitative study was to construct a new theory for the discipline of dental hygiene. Dental hygienists' experiences while participating in legislative efforts to expand their scope of practice and the provision of direct access to oral care were explored as social action experiences.

Methods: A grounded theory approach was used to collect and analyze data. Using semi-structured interviews, data were collected from eight practitioners in three states, who met the inclusion criteria. Data analysis consisted of three separate coding procedures: initial, focused and theoretical. Critical theory was used as the theoretical lens, which focused on the struggle to improve access to care.

Results: The learning process was categorized into actions: Committing to Social Action, Challenging the Status Quo to Improve Access to Care, Surviving in Social Action and Envisioning the Future. The education process involved: Raising Critical Awareness of Underserved Populations' Oral Health Needs, Building Support for Improving Access to Care, Sustaining Support for Social Action and Building the Next Generation of Dental Hygiene Practitioners. The resulting theory, Synergy in Social Action, is composed of three key elements which provide energy to sustain momentum for social action through the interaction both within and among these elements. The identified elements are: learning and educating process, critical awareness and empowerment, and individual and collective action.

Conclusion: The Synergy in Social Action Theory provides the means to understand the challenge of improving access to oral health care from a new vantage point and advances dental hygiene as a discipline with its own theories.