The following abstracts are from the participants of the 2022 Dentsply Sirona/ADHA Graduate Student Clinician’s Research Program. The purpose of the annual program, generously supported by Dentsply Sirona for the past 15 years, is to promote dental hygiene research at the graduate level. Dental hygiene post-graduate programs may nominate one student to participate and present their research at the Annual Conference of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. The following posters were presented at the ADHA Annual Conference, held in Louisville, Kentucky, June 23-26, 2022.
* Indicates first author
Clinical Faculty Training and Confidence Applying the 2017 AAP Classification System**
*Allison Carron, RDH, MS
Ceib L. Phillips, PhD, MPH
Rebecca Wilder, RDH, MS
Antonio Moretti, DDS, MS
Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
**1st place award recipient
Purpose: In 2017 the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) introduced a new system of classifying periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the amount of training clinical dental hygiene faculty have received on this system in addition to their perceived confidence in its understanding, application with students, and the accuracy of the classification selections.
Methods: A convenience sample of 336 dental hygiene program directors and an unspecified number of clinical dental hygiene faculty were invited to participate in an online survey. The instument consisted of 24 multiple choice and open-ended questions addressing demographics, training, and confidence. Descriptive statistics with confidence intervals and bivariate analysis, including Chi Square and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests were used to analyze the data.
Results: A total of 186 individuals participated. Most (78.5%) reported receiving formal training on the 2017 system. Self-reported confidence in understanding the system indicated 30.2% of participants were at least somewhat confident, 48.9% were confident, and 20.9% were very confident. In applying the system for use with students in clinic, 34.1% were at least somewhat confident, 44.5% were confident, and 21.4% were very confident. In accurately selecting the correct classification, 33.0% were at least somewhat confident, 47.8% were confident, and 19.2% were very confident.
Conclusions: Supportive material in educating clinical dental hygiene faculty on the 2017 AAP classification system should be produced and easily available to those that report no or limited training, and for those with low levels of confidence in their understanding, accuracy, and application of the system with students.
Efficacy of a Periodontal Endoscope on Calculus Removal in First Molar Furcations**
*Anne Marie Wang, RDH, MS
Danielle Rulli, RDH, MS, DHSc
Janet Kinney, RDH, MS
Hsun-Liang Chan, DDS, MS
Daniel Chiego Jr, MS, PhD
University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
** Second place award recipient
Purpose: Scaling and root planing (SRP) is a gold standard of nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT), however its success may vary due to the lack of direct visualization and the limitations of tactile detection. Use of a periodontal endoscope during SRP, endoscope-guided SRP (EG-SRP) may improve the outcomes of SRP. The purpose of this bench study was to explore if EG-SRP resulted in better removal of calculus in furcation areas in vitro.
Methods: A total of 50 furcations from 20 previously extracted maxillary and mandibular first molars were randomized and stratified to either the Tactile SRP Arm (Control Arm) or the EG-SRP Arm (Study Arm). All specimens were stained, scanned to obtain a pre-treatment image, and mounted in simulated gingiva. Both arms underwent SRP to the point of the root surfaces feeling smooth as evaluated tactilely by an ODU 11/12 explorer, and specimens in the Study Arm were also evaluated visually using a periodontal endoscope. After receiving treatment, the specimens were removed from the gingiva-like material to obtain a post-treatment scanned image. The areas of the furcation surface and remaining calculus deposits were calculated to obtain the amount of residual calculus.
Results: Conventional SRP resulted in 22.5% more residual calculus as compared to EG-SRP (p=0.001).
Conclusion: Within the limits of this in vivo study, EG-SRP was more effective at calculus removal than conventional SRP in furcation areas and may be more effective as an adjunct modality in NSPT compared to conventional SRP alone.
Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Statistics in Undergraduate Dental Hygiene Education**
*Emily Penberthy, RDH, BSDH, MSDH
Windy Rothmund, RDH, BS, MSDH
Lorie Speer, RDH, BSDH, MSDH
David Line, PhD, MPH, LMSW, EMT-Public Health
Eastern Washington University, Spokane, WA, USA
** Third place award recipient
Purpose: Student apprehension towards statistics can be a barrier to understanding research as it relates to patient care. The purpose of this study was to investigate undergraduate dental hygiene students’ attitudes and perceptions toward statistics.
Methods: Social media sites were used to recruit participants for single survey. Instrument items included the SATS-28, demographic, and qualitative questions. Junior and senior dental hygiene students were invited to voluntarily participate. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and thematic coding.
Results: Of the 136 responding students, 109 completed the full survey (n = 109). The SATS-28 descriptive statistics revealed overall neutral attitude in most subscales. No statistical significance (p = 0.68; 0.98; 0.93) was found in confidence levels among students with statistics exposure in high school; however, students with a prerequisite statistics class showed statistical significance (p = 0.05) when assessing confidence in applying statistics to patient care. A review of qualitative responses about attitudes and perceptions found most seniors (64%; n = 32) felt they would use statistics “sometimes” during the remainder of their program compared to just under one third of juniors (29%; n = 17) who said they would use it “often”. Overall, 43% of seniors (n = 25) reported being excited about statistics compared to 35% of juniors (n = 13).
Conclusion: The neutral and adverse attitudes towards statistics indicate that educators are tasked with creating positive educational opportunities that foster confidence in comprehension and application of statistics as they relate to patient care.
Student Perceptions of a School-Based Sealant Program: A qualitative review
*Ashley J. Hobbs, RDH, MS
Tanya Villalpando Mitchell, RDH, MS
Kimberly Krust Bray, PhD
Julie Sutton, RDH, MS
University of Missouri School of Dentistry, Kansas City, MO, USA
Purpose: Civic engagement programs can have a positive impact on reducing disparities and increasing access to care. The purpose of this study was to explore experiences acquired from a school-based sealant program (SBSP) and to inform institutions of the value of educational experiences aiming to reduce disparities in access to dental care.
Methods: Senior dental hygiene (DH) students at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry participate in a civic engagement course that includes community projects and clinical activities targeting Kansas City’s urban and surrounding rural environments. The SBSP is a component of this course. Student reflections on the SBSP program and supervising dentist interviews were analyzed for conceptual models and common themes.
Results: Qualitative analysis resulted in consensus of five synthesized conceptual models and twenty-three emergent themes. Conceptual models included: competence, roles and responsibilities, social justice, value added, and lessons learned.
Conclusions: Based on triangulated results, SBSPs were shown to improve access to care for children, save dental costs, and provide essential experiences for students.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness of Oral Health Professionals to Treat Transgender Patients
*Tammy Marshall-Paquin, RDH, MSDH
Linda D. Boyd, RDH, RD, EdD
Jared Vineyard, PhD
Ryan Palica, MA, LPC
MCPHS University,
Boston, MA, USA
Objectives: Lack of knowledge about transgender patients often correlates with increased stigma and a lack of willingness to provide care to this population. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and willingness of oral health providers to care for transgender patients.
Methods: Cross-sectional survey research was conducted with a convenience sample of dentists, mid-level providers, and dental hygienists (n=315). The survey instrument examined knowledge, willingness, and stigma utilizing the Transgender Stigma Scale. Analysis included descriptive, correlation, and regression.
Results: The completion rate was 85% (n=268). Respondents scored an average of 70% on the knowledge questions, with two-thirds of participants unable to define ‘gender’ and ‘sex identify (56% and 66%, respectively). A lack of willingness to seek additional information on providing culturally competent care, having lower levels of knowledge, or identifying with specific religions correlated with higher levels of stigma (p<.001). Canadian providers, those with higher levels of knowledge, or who had transgender friends and/or family demonstrated lower levels of stigma (p <.001).
Conclusions: Transgender individuals face disparities in healthcare, including oral health. Based on the findings, it will be important to address factors associated with higher levels of stigma when educating oral health professionals about providing culturally competent care for transgender individuals.
Implicit Racial Preferences Among Dental Hygienists
*Olivia A. Morzenti, BS, RDH, CDHC, MS(c)
Kristin H. Calley, RDH, MS
Colleen Stephenson, RDH-ER, MS
Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA
Purpose: Implicit biases affect the patient-provider relationship, including shared decisions, treatment goals, patient adherence, and interpersonal communication. The purpose of this study was to investigate implicit racial preferences among dental hygienists.
Methods: A two-part web-based survey was used to collect demographic data and identify implicit racial preferences using the Implicit Association Test (IAT). Currently licensed and practicing dental hygienists within the United States were eligible to participate. A snowball sampling method was used to distribute the survey through social media sites. A randomly generated identification code was used to match responses between the two survey sites used.
Results: Of the 603 responses, 404 responses were used to determine an average d-score of 0.31, or a slight preference for European American over African American. Results showed a significance in the number of years worked and race/ethnicity, with non-White dental hygienists and those working less than 5 years having lower d-scores compared to White dental hygienists with 21-50+ years of experience. Task ‘order effect’, previous IAT experience and bias training had no statistical significance on d-scores.
Conclusions: Findings from this study may contribute to dental hygienists becoming more aware of their own racial biases which may positively impact the patient-provider relationship, clinician decision making, and oral health disparities. Further research with a larger and more diverse pool of participants is recommended to enhance the understanding of racial attitudes and stereotypes of dental hygienists.
Allied Dental Students’ DVI Learning Outcomes Following a Multimedia Module
*Samantha Vest, RDH, MS
Brenda Bradshaw, RDH, MS
Marsha Voelker, CDA, RDH, MS
Ann Bruhn, RDH, MS
Tara Newcomb, RDH, MS
Sinjini Sikdar, PhD
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
Purpose: Oral health professionals have the skills to assist in disaster victim identification. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess cognitive and affective learning outcomes of dental hygiene and dental assisting students following a disaster victim identification (DVI) multi-media learning experience.
Methods: A convenience sample of senior dental hygiene (n=27) and dental assisting (n=14) students completed an IRB-exempt descriptive pre-test/post-test study to assess perceived learning outcomes resulting from a multimedia DVI learning experience consisting of a PowerPoint presentation with audio/video recordings. After completing the learning experience, participants were presented with 5 sets of mismatched antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) digital bitewing radiographs to test their cognitive ability to indicate identification matches.
Results: All participants (n=41) accurately matched at least four out of five radiographic DVI sets for an accuracy rate of 80%. Most participants (n=38, 92%) indicated they felt moderately or extremely confident to assist with DVIs as a result of curricula from their respective programs. A linear trend test revealed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in perceived cognitive knowledge of DVI dental application skills for mass fatality incidents, and a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in perceived affective attitudes regarding perceived importance of their respective professions as DVI volunteers.
Conclusions: Results show a multimedia learning module may significantly increase allied dental students’ cognitive and affective abilities to aid in DVI efforts. Additional research with larger samples of allied dental students could provide more information about the efficacy of including such learning modules in curricula where there are current gaps.
Presenteeism: Characteristics of dental hygienists who work when sick
*Cory S. Williams, RDH, BS, EFDA
Rachel Kearney, RDH, MS
Anjum Shah, RDH, MS, EdD
Janice Townsend, DDS, MS
The Ohio State University School of Dentistry, Columbus, OH, USA
Purpose: Presenteeism, or working while sick, results in disease transmission and decreased productivity. The purpose of this study was to identify demographic data and work-practice factors that relate to presenteeism and identify attitudes and beliefs before and during the pandemic.
Methods: A 30-item online survey about working while sick was adapted from a survey used for physicians. Dental hygienists were recruited via social media. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression.
Results: 843 participants completed the survey. 79% of the respondents worked when sick at least once a year preceding the pandemic. Those who worked with cold symptoms or contagious illnesses were under the age of 40 (p=0.03), with two dental hygienists employed in their primary place of employment (p=0.02) and worked 13+ days/month. 49% of respondents worked when sick at least once during the pandemic. Those over the age of 40 (p=0.02), with greater than $80,000 in education loan debt, worked with cold symptoms or a contagious illness during the pandemic. Participants with 11-20 years of working experience (p=0.03), an hourly wage compensation mechanism (p=0.03), and education debt level of $20,000–$30,000 (p=0.02) believed that working when sick endangers patients and colleagues.
Conclusions: Financial burden, age, number of days worked, years in practice, number of employed dental hygienists, management, production, patient and colleague expectations, and fear of ostracism were factors of presenteeism indicating the need for a shift in occupational safety and well-being among practitioners, colleagues, and patients.
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