PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Bernie, Kristy Menage
AU  - Couch, Elizabeth T.
AU  - Walsh, Margaret
TI  - Perceptions of California Dental Hygienists Regarding Mandatory Continued Competence Requirements as a Condition of License Renewal
DP  - 2016 Oct 01
TA  - American Dental Hygienists Association
PG  - 275--282
VI  - 90
IP  - 5
4099  - http://jdh.adha.org/content/90/5/275.short
4100  - http://jdh.adha.org/content/90/5/275.full
SO  - J Dent Hyg2016 Oct 01; 90
AB  - Purpose: To determine the perceptions of California dental hygienists (DHs) regarding mandatory continued competence requirements (MCCRs) as a condition for license renewal.Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was distributed through email by the California Dental Hygienists' Association (CDHA). The CDHA agreed to send a link to the survey and informed consent information to DHs whose email addresses were in the CDHA database. The online survey consisted of 19 items. All survey responses were analyzed using frequency distributions for categorical variables and means for continuous variables. Chi-square tests assessed associations between variables and differences between groups. The Wilcoxon signed rank test assessed relationships between perceptions and support of MCCRs for license renewal.Results: Almost all (93%) believed that they have remained competent to deliver care since licensure. Over half agreed that continued competence should be verified throughout ones' professional career (53%). Most (81%) agreed that continued competence is important for patient safety and well-being. Less than half (47%) supported MCCRs as a condition of license renewal; however, 51% of those who agreed that competence is important for patient safety and well-being and 67% of those who agreed with verification of competence were in support of MCCRs.Conclusion: While California DHs agreed that continued competence is important for patient safety and well-being and verification of competence is important, less than half supported MCCRs. Prior to instituting mandate for license renewal in California, continued competence and methods to ensure continued competence throughout ones' career should be defined.