@article {Conklin234, author = {Katherine V. Conklin and Gwen Essex and Dorothy J. Rowe}, title = {Factors Influencing California Dental Hygienists{\textquoteright} Involvement in School-Based Oral Health Programs}, volume = {90}, number = {4}, pages = {234--243}, year = {2016}, publisher = {American Dental Hygienists{\textquoteright} Association}, abstract = {Purpose: To assess the influence of community oral health experiences during entry-level dental hygiene education on participation in community oral health events after graduation and the facilitators and barriers experienced by dental hygienists in participating in these programs.Methods: A 27-item survey, consisting of items related to community oral health experiences during and after entry-level education, was distributed by the California Dental Hygienists{\textquoteright} Association to all dental hygienists whose email addresses were in their database. Frequencies of participants{\textquoteright} responses to each survey item were calculated. Chi-square analysis was performed to identify significant relationships among variables.Results: Response rate was 8\%, with 513 out of the 6,248 contacted having responded. Additionally, 95\% of the respondents had participated, as entry-level students, in community oral health experiences such as school-based oral health educational programs. Respondents agreed that participation in these programs was valuable to their professional development and encouraged them to participate after graduation; both these variables were related (p\<0.01) to their participation in community experiences as a licensed dental hygienist. Most (75\%) respondents reported participation in community events after graduation. The most commonly reported facilitators, encouraging participation, were an interest in helping people (89\%) and professional development (59\%). Barriers included conflict with work (61\%), family time commitment (52\%), and no knowledge of existing programs (24\%).Conclusion: Dental hygienists{\textquoteright} involvement in school-based oral health programs is enhanced by their community experiences as a dental hygiene student. Barriers and facilitators need to be addressed to increase the number of programs and participants so that more children can benefit.}, issn = {1553-0205}, URL = {https://jdh.adha.org/content/90/4/234}, eprint = {https://jdh.adha.org/content/90/4/234.full.pdf}, journal = {American Dental Hygienists{\textquoteright} Association} }