An approach to developing oral health knowledge for allied health students.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Oral health competency-based education approaches have been proposed as a mechanism to address oral health outcomes and equity issues. Recommendations for oral health education for allied health professional students include practices to increase team members' knowledge and skills in the integration of oral health and primary care practice (IOHPCP) initiative's oral health clinical competencies for primary care providers. AIMS: This study aimed to examine changes in self-reported knowledge of occupational students in the topics of oral health, the dental profession, and dental healthcare systems following participation in a series of webinars and a community-engaged learning project. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study utilized an oral health education program through webinars and a community-engaged learning project for occupational therapy students. Program evaluation measures were utilized to assess the oral health education activities through self-reported knowledge in oral health topics aligned with IOHPCP domains along with topics identified by the community partner organization. RESULTS: Findings demonstrate that asynchronous webinars can increase self-reported knowledge in occupational therapy students. DISCUSSION: Recommendations for inclusion of oral health education for allied health students related to knowledge of oral health, the dental profession, and dental healthcare systems are shared. CONCLUSIONS: Asynchronous webinars have the potential to increase self-reported oral health knowledge for allied health professionals.