This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Purpose: The state of Oregon developed the expanded practice dental hygienist (EPDH), to address oral health care disparities. The establishment of collaborative practice agreements between dental hygienists (DH) and physician assistants (PA), has created a need for interprofessional education (IPE) for future interprofessional collaboration with EPDHs. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an IPE intervention on future interest in collaborative practice agreements.
Methods: Current and former DH and PA students from Pacific University Oregon (n=420) were invited to participate in an electronic survey. The 39-item survey included questions related to an annual IPE activity and questions related to collaborative practice agreements between PAs and EPDHs. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.
Results: A total of 80 DHs and PAs completed the survey for a response rate of 19%. There were high levels of agreement between DHs and PAs in regards to valuing the expertise of other health care providers, teamworking skills and interprofessional collaboration for a better understanding of a patient's condition. Only 18.9% (n=7) of the DH respondents and 25.6% of the PA respondents (n=11) were aware of the collaborative practice agreements for Oregon EPDHs.
Conclusion: Participants from DH and PA disciplines agreed patient care is improved by collaborative practice fostered through interprofessional education activities. Multiple approaches may be needed to increase knowledge on the EPDH collaborative practice agreements with PAs in Oregon.
- interprofessional education
- dental hygiene workforce models
- collaborative practice
- dental hygienists
- physician assistants
Footnotes
Christela Ivon Falcon, RDH, MS is an adjunct clinical instructor, Division of Dental Hygiene, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, Detroit, MI; Amy E Coplen, RDH, MS is an associate professor and the Program Director, School of Dental Hygiene Studies, Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR; Saje Davis-Risen, MS, PA-C is an associate professor and the Associate Director, School of Physician Assistant Studies and the Associate Dean of Interprofessional Education, College of Health Professions, Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR; Dina Korte, RDH, MS is a clinical lecturer, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Dental Hygiene, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI; Margherita Fontana, DDS is a professor, Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, PhD; Danielle Furgeson, RDH, MS, DHSc is a clinical assistant professor and the Graduate Dental Hygiene Program Director, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Dental Hygiene, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI.
This manuscript supports NDHRA priority area, Professional development: Education (Interprofessional education).
- Received April 7, 2019.
- Accepted December 15, 2019.
- Copyright © 2020 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
Log in using your username and password
