Abstract
Objective:
To explore the findings of a diagnostic assessment and analysis of an undergraduate student led integrated interdisciplinary outreach oral health promotion service(OOHPS) team’s organisational and professional perceptions, conducted within the scope and framework of a service improvement audit undertaken in the ‘real life’ hospital setting.
Method:
A standards-based audit was delivered to a reference population of systematic random representative staff and students in order to attempt to generalize the audit findings. The audit questionnaire was designed to appeal to the team member’s comprising professional values and interests of 1st and 5th year undergraduate dentists, hygiene and therapy students, and general student nurses. A combined method of open and closed questions was used, with the opportunity for respondents to make free text.
Result:
The audit found that all respondents 100% (n=22) believe the OOHPS is a valuable service that enhances inpatient care and perceive the service as a valuable learning experience for general student nurses and hygiene and therapy students, with 95% (n=21) believing this for 5th year undergraduate students. The respondents believe the team should be made up of Qualified dentist 4% (n=4), Qualified dental nurse (DN) with OHP certificate 17% (n=18) without 6% (n=6), Qualified hygienist/therapist 14% (n=15), 5th year undergraduate dental student 13% (n=14), with DN with OHP cert 11% (n=11), hygiene therapy student 14% (n=15), General student nurse 11% (n=11) with DN with OHP certificate 10% (10), with 82% (n=18) aware of published evidence based oral health promotion papers.
Conclusion:
Undertaking a placement with the OHP team allows students to practice their professional responsibilities in a safe real life clinical situation with fellow members of the extended healthcare team allowing the development of partnership working and communication. It allows students the opportunity to observe dental health and its affect on general well being and vice versa.
To explore the findings of a diagnostic assessment and analysis of an undergraduate student led integrated interdisciplinary outreach oral health promotion service(OOHPS) team’s organisational and professional perceptions, conducted within the scope and framework of a service improvement audit undertaken in the ‘real life’ hospital setting.
Method:
A standards-based audit was delivered to a reference population of systematic random representative staff and students in order to attempt to generalize the audit findings. The audit questionnaire was designed to appeal to the team member’s comprising professional values and interests of 1st and 5th year undergraduate dentists, hygiene and therapy students, and general student nurses. A combined method of open and closed questions was used, with the opportunity for respondents to make free text.
Result:
The audit found that all respondents 100% (n=22) believe the OOHPS is a valuable service that enhances inpatient care and perceive the service as a valuable learning experience for general student nurses and hygiene and therapy students, with 95% (n=21) believing this for 5th year undergraduate students. The respondents believe the team should be made up of Qualified dentist 4% (n=4), Qualified dental nurse (DN) with OHP certificate 17% (n=18) without 6% (n=6), Qualified hygienist/therapist 14% (n=15), 5th year undergraduate dental student 13% (n=14), with DN with OHP cert 11% (n=11), hygiene therapy student 14% (n=15), General student nurse 11% (n=11) with DN with OHP certificate 10% (10), with 82% (n=18) aware of published evidence based oral health promotion papers.
Conclusion:
Undertaking a placement with the OHP team allows students to practice their professional responsibilities in a safe real life clinical situation with fellow members of the extended healthcare team allowing the development of partnership working and communication. It allows students the opportunity to observe dental health and its affect on general well being and vice versa.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | International Association for Dental Research General Session |
| Place of Publication | Iguazu Falls, Brasil |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2012 |