RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of a service-learning course on special needs patients for dental hygiene students by considering student reflections, community site coordinators' feedback, and faculty reflections in a qualitative analysis. Twenty-three female dental hygiene students beginning their fourth semester in the program provided preventive oral health services at eight community sites serving six diverse groups of people having special health care needs. Students reflected on the experience via commentaries written in self-reflection journals. The investigators applied the constant comparative method to analyze and unitize the data, ultimately reaching consensus on three category topics: awareness, higher order thinking, and professionalism. End of course project assessments provided additional data that was used to triangulate with data from the reflective journals. Telephone interviews with the site coordinators and personal interviews with the course faculty provided data from multiple perspectives. The outcomes of this study suggest that service-learning pedagogy can facilitate a deeper understanding of the subject matter and provide an opportunity for students to use critical thinking strategies in addition to becoming aware of complex social and professional issues related to the oral health care of individuals with special needs.
Asunto(s)
Atención Dental para la Persona con Discapacidad , Higienistas Dentales/educación , Preceptoría , Anciano , Enfermedad de Alzheimer , Actitud del Personal de Salud , Trastorno Autístico , Concienciación , Niño , Odontología Comunitaria/educación , Cuidado Dental para Ancianos , Atención Dental para Niños , Docentes , Retroalimentación , Trastornos de Alimentación y de la Ingestión de Alimentos , Femenino , Humanos , Entrevistas como Asunto , Personas con Deficiencia Auditiva , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud , Cese del Hábito de Fumar , Enseñanza/métodos , Pensamiento , Personas con Daño VisualRESUMEN
The profession of dental hygiene has made considerable progress over the past 30 years toward developing a unique body of knowledge for guiding education, practice, and research. The 1993-1994 American Dental Hygienists' Association Council on Research published the first national dental hygiene research agenda in 1994. The 1994 research agenda focused dental hygienists' research efforts; however, publication of two national reports--the Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health, and Healthy People 2010--have made it necessary to revisit the research agenda. After considering input from participants in the Fourth National Dental Hygiene Research Conference and evaluating the Surgeon General's Report, the 2000-2001 Council on Research has established recommendations for the prioritization of the 1993-1994 research agenda. This report outlines for readers the rationale for the proposed recommendations.