Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Magnification Loupes On Posture During Instrumentation By Dental Hygienists, Emily Anne Ludwig

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dental magnification loupes on posture during instrumentation. Methods: A convenience sample of twenty-seven righthanded dental hygienists with no history of injuries or disabilities of the head, neck, and trunk regions was enrolled. Baseline posture calibration was taken. Accelerometers were placed on four locations of the head and trunk (occipital pole of head, cervical vertebrae: C5, thoracic vertebrae: T5, lumbar vertebrae: L1) to measure changes in posture. Accelerations in three axes were recorded (anterior/posterior (AP), medial/lateral (ML), vertical (VT)). Mean accelerations of the three axes were used to compute …

Dental Consumers' Perceptions Of Dental Hygienists With Visible Tattoos, Amanda Brooke Verissimo

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if visible tattoos affected the perceptions of dental consumers toward the professionalism and credibility of dental hygienists.

Methods: An 11 item, IRB approved investigator designed survey was administered online to 203 subjects invited to participate via a commercial web source. Surveys were randomized according to respondents' birth month. Participants viewed one of three photographs of a dental hygiene model wearing short-sleeved scrubs without a tattoo, with a large sleeve tattoo on the arm or with a small tattoo on the wrist. Participants scored each photograph on a 5-point Likert scale based …

The Perception And Employability Of Dental Hygienists With Visible Tattoos, Christina Lynn Cox

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine if the presence of visible tattoos could hinder employment for dental hygienists. Methods: 1,800 electronic surveys were distributed to licensed dentists in the state of Virginia. Surveys were arbitrarily assigned according to subject's birth month. Participants were shown a photograph of a dental hygienist with one of the three conditions: 1) no tattoo, 2) small tattoo, or 3) large "sleeve" tattoo. Respondents were asked to score the image based on five categories: ethical, responsible, competent, hygienic and professional, using a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly …

Disaster Preparedness & Response: A Survey Of U.S. Dental Hygienists, Brenda Tallon Bradshaw

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine dental hygienists' interests, formal education, views, comfort levels, and intentions for becoming involved in disaster preparedness and response as measured by a 21-item survey entitled "Victim Identification for Disaster Preparedness & Response: A Survey of Dental Hygienists". Methods: A nonprobability convenience sample (n=400) was recruited for an online survey. Data was analyzed for statistical significance using descriptive statistics, chisquare goodness-of-fit tests, a Mann-Whitney U test, and a paired-samples t-test. Similar themes were identified and categorized from open-ended questions. Results: A response rate of 83.5% (n=334) was attained. Regardless of years …

Magnification Loupes In U.S. Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Programs, Leslie Mchaney Congdon

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine policies and practices regarding magnification loupes among accredited dental hygiene programs as measured by a 31- item, self-designed questionnaire titled Magnifying Loupes in U.S. Entry Level Dental Hygiene Programs. In addition, the study compared policies among dental hygiene programs in two year versus four year programs in terms of requirements for the use of magnification loupes.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, the questionnaire was emailed via Survey Monkey to 303 entry-level dental hygiene programs. An overall response rate of 75% was obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and …

Effects Of Five Different Finger Rest Positions On Arm Muscle Activity During Scaling By Dental Hygiene Students, Mary Elizabeth Cosaboom

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine the effects of five different finger rest positions, (fulcrums: opposite arch, standard intra-oral, basic extra-oral, cross arch and finger on finger) on the muscle activity of four forearm muscles, (extensor carpi radialis longus, flexor carpi ulnar is, biceps brachii and pronator teres) during a simulated periodontal scaling experience. A convenience sample of 32 consenting right handed senior dental hygiene students who met inclusion criteria participated. The 32 students had no history of injuries or disabilities to the right arm, wrist, or hand. Pre-test maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) scores were obtained prior …

The Effects Of Universal And Rotating Ultrasonic Inserts On Wrist Movement, Scaling Time Efficiency, And Cumulative Trauma Risk In Dental Hygienists, Christine Colavita Hawn

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences existed in range of wrist movements and scaling time efficiency in dental hygienists that use a rotating ultrasonic insert as compared to those who use a standard universal insert. A convenience sample of 30 consenting experienced dental hygienists from the Norfolk area who met inclusion criteria was invited to be subjects. Using a crossover research design, each experimental subject used the rotating ultrasonic scaling insert to remove 2 cc artificial calculus from a typodont in a controlled, simulated clinical situation for up to 15 minutes. While scaling, each subject wore …

Predictors Of Oral Health Behaviors: Examining The Effect Of Patient Perceived Humanistic Attitude In The Context Of The Health Belief Model, Linda Leigh Hawkins Carroll

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to test the explanatory power of The Health Belief Model with the added environmental condition of perceived humanistic attitude of a dental hygienist in its ability to predict individual's performance of oral disease prevention behaviors. A cross section survey of an intact group of 1,943 full time employees of Old Dominion University was conducted. The response rate was 52% (n = 1001). An exclusionary rule eliminated respondents who did not have a dental hygienist provide preventive services during dental visits. Seven hundred and fifty four were included in the study analyses. The study participants …

Managerial And Administrative Competencies For Dental Hygiene Program Administrators, Kelly Gale Tanner

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purposes of this descriptive study was to validate a list of managerial competencies that may guide administrative/management curricula within master of science in dental hygiene programs nationwide, and compile strategies for the development and implementation of the administrative and managerial competencies for future dental hygiene program administrators. Of the entire population of directors and chairpersons from accredited and accreditation eligible dental hygiene programs nationwide (N=262), 10 were randomly selected and used in a pilot survey. After establishing validity and test-retest reliability, a self-designed instrument, the Managerial and Administrative Competencies for Dental Hygiene Program Administrators Questionnaire, was mailed to …

Cultural Adaptability Of Students Attending Culturally Diverse And Non-Culturally Diverse Dental Hygiene Programs, Katrina White Magee

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive investigation was to determine the cultural adaptability of students attending culturally diverse and nonculturally diverse dental hygiene programs throughout the U.S. The dental hygiene schools were identified according to their ethnic diversity as reported by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation in the 1996-1997 Survey of Dental Hygiene Education Programs. Once the programs were identified, a random sample was taken from the diverse and non-diverse dental hygiene programs. A 50-item inventory, the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI), was mailed to the participating dental hygiene programs. One-hundred eighty-eight students represented U.S. dental hygiene programs in the …

Sexual Harassment In The Virginia Dental Hygiene Profession, Anne Pennington

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Course Selection Factors Deemed Important By Dental Hygienists Prior To And After The Initiation Of Mandatory Continuing Education In The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Melissa Lynn Sainsbury

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the factors deemed important by dental hygienists in their selection of continuing education courses prior to and after the initiation of mandatory continuing education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Under mandatory continuing education, dental hygiene educators must be able to plan continuing education courses that meet the needs of potential participants.

Results indicate that relative to each other, the 15 factors within this study, ranked in a hierarchy of importance in continuing education course selection by dental hygienists. Mandatory requirement for relicensure and course time ranked higher and course presenter and cost …

Comparison Of Curriculum Content On Behavioral Strategies For Managing Anxious Clients In Associate And Baccalaureate Degree Dental Hygiene Programs In The United States, Darnyl Marie King

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Dental anxiety, a pervasive problem in the general population, is an important client management concern for dental hygienists. This study sought to determine the type and amount of instruction in United States dental hygiene programs in terms of behavioral strategies for the management of anxious clients, the difference in instruction between associate and baccalaureate degree dental hygiene programs, and the opinions of dental hygiene educators regarding these strategies. A self-designed, 19-item questionnaire entitled the King Behavioral Management Questionnaire was used to obtain data on a sample of 210 accredited dental hygiene programs. Part one of the questionnaire consisted of questions …

The Cultural Adaptability Of Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nursing And Physical Therapy Faculty, Irene Mary Connolly

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the cultural adaptability of full time faculty in the College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. The sample consisted of 40 health science faculty representing dental hygiene, medical laboratory sciences, nursing and physical therapy. The principal investigator personally administered the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI), a 50 item instrument, which contains questions to measure the construct cultural adaptability and its four dimensions: emotional resilience, flexibility/openness, perceptual acuity and personal autonomy. The CCAI is not targeted to one particular culture, but rather is designed to be culture general.

Analysis of …

The Relationship Between Levels Of Dentist Supervision And The Ability Of Dental Hygienists In Nontraditional Settings To Provide Care, Julie Ann Dunphy

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to determine if a relationship exists between levels of dentist supervision and the ability of dental hygienists in nontraditional settings to provide care, and to ascertain differences in the ability of dental hygienists practicing in legal jurisdictions with direct, indirect, general, and no dentist supervision. The Dental Hygiene supervision in Nontraditional settings Questionnaire (DHSNSQ) was sent to a purposive sample consisting of dental hygienists employed in nontraditional settings within one of the four levels of dentist supervision. The levels of dentist supervision were based on criteria, education, and competence, stipulated by each of the …

Regulation Of Dental Hygienists: Its Effect On Disciplinary Action And Opinions Of Regulatory Board Members In The United States And Canada, Jodie A. Mueller

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was two-fold. The first was to examine the effect of regulatory status (dentist versus dental hygienist control) on disciplinary sanctions for dental hygiene practitioners. The second was to assess the opinions of board members concerning the regulation of the practice of dental hygiene. Regulatory bodies from jurisdictions with and without dental hygiene self-regulation in both Canada and the United States respectively were examined to determine if differences exist in opinions and sanctions exercised by the two. A self-designed questionnaire titled the Mueller-Dental Hygiene Regulatory Questionnaire was used to obtain descriptive data on a sample of …

Attitudes Of Virginia Dental Hygienists Towards Issues Relevant To The Independent Practice Of Dental Hygiene, Linda Hawkins Mccain

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Adequate studies have not been conducted to assess the attitudes of dental hygienists toward independent practice of dental hygiene. The purpose of this study was to investigate these attitudes. The method of investigation was a survey questionnaire designed by the principle investigator. The research results indicated weak support for the independent practice of dental hygiene. The support for general supervision of hygienists in Virginia and the desire to be allowed to practice in nontraditional settings was stronger. There was reported a very strong opposition to preceptorship in dental hygiene. The majority of Virginia dental hygienists agreed that they were educationally …

Promoting Careers In Dental Hygiene: The Dental Hygienist's Role, Taline Dadian

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether practicing dental hygienists promote their profession as a desirable career. A self-designed, 48 item questionnaiire, Dental Hygienists' Participation in Career Recruitment, was mailed to a random sample of 600 dental hygienists residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Data were obtained from 393 dental hygienists for a 65.5 percent response rate. Responses from each item were analyzed by frequency distributions, percentages and chi-square test for independence at a 0.05 level of confidence. The factors determined to influence dental hygienists' decisions towards promoting careers in dental hygiene included the perceived image of the …

Survey Of Attitudes Of Licensed Dental Hygienists Toward Continuing Education In A State With Mandatory Continuing Education Versus A State Without Mandatory Continuing Education, Katharine Reeves Behroozi

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to compare attitudes of licensed dental hygienists toward continuing education (CE) in two states: Kentucky, a state with mandatory continuing education (MCE) as a requirement for dental hygiene re-licensure and Virginia, a state without MCE for dental hygiene re-licensure. A self-designed, 28-item instrument, Continuing Education Attitudinal Questionnaire, was mailed to a stratified and random sample of 400 licensed dental hygienists in Kentucky and Virginia. Employing the chi-square test for independence, analysis of results revealed that Kentucky participants responded more affirmatively than Virginia participants to attitudinal statements regarding CE, particularly in areas of MCE, benefits …

Job Satisfaction Among Three Different Dental Hygiene Occupational Settings, Ruth Halstead Hull

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

A survey was conducted to determine differences in job satisfaction which may exist among dental hygienists employed in private practice positions, public health positions, and dental hygiene education positions. A modified version of the questionnaire developed by the Washington State Dental Auxiliaries Project was mailed to all public health dental hygienists, all dental hygiene educators, and a randomized sample containing ten percent of private practice employed dental hygienists residing in North Carolina for a total of 334 participants. From a 76 percent response rate, results indicated that dental hygiene educators feel more satisfied overall than private practice dental hygienists and …

A Survey Of Burnout Among Dental Hygiene Educators, Sandra Boggs Ricks

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

A survey was conducted on 159 full-time dental hygiene educators in order to collect data on job satisfaction, morale, and perceived institutional/program effectiveness. Educators were chosen for the study by cluster sampling from two- and four-year accredited dental hygiene programs in the United States. The programs were selected at random from stratified groups according to type of institutional setting. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire which contained four major sections: demographic data, job satisfaction, institutional/program effectiveness, and feelings related to their position. Findings were analyzed utilizing contingency tables and Chi-Square analysis. No attempt was made to establish a cause …

Orthodontists' Attitudes Toward Expanding Career Opportunities For The Dental Hygienist In Orthodontics, Julie A. Foster

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this survey was to determine attitudes of orthodontists toward employing dental hygienists. A self-designed, 33 item questionnaire was used to obtain descriptive data. The questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of orthodontists chosen from the United States portion of the Orthodontic Directory of the World (N=500). Data were obtained from 298 orthodontists for a 58.6 percent response rate.

The study suggests that although orthodontists believe dental hygienists are important oral health professionals (96.2 percent) and important parts of the orthodontic practice (32.6 percent), only 10.9 percent of orthodontists surveyed employ dental hygienists. Factors determined to be …

Old Dominion University Master Of Science In Dental Hygiene Degree Program: Graduate And Employer Survey, Deborah Blythe Bauman

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to survey Old Dominion University dental hygiene master's degree graduates and their employers to assess the overall quality of the graduates' education. Individuals who graduated between May 1976 and December 1981 (N =29) were sent a self-designed questionnaire to obtain evaluative data about the ODU dental hygiene master's degree program. The graduates were asked to identify strengths and weaknesses of the ODU master's degree program, the role competencies required for their current position, and the degree to which they were prepared for their current job by the master's degree program. Concurrently, employers were asked …

Relationship Between The Empathy Levels Of Dental Hygiene Students And Their Teachers, Claudia Hudak Sanderlin

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

This investigation assessed empathy in first year, second year, and graduate dental hygiene students, and dental hygiene educators. Change in empathy levels of students and educators over one academic year was determined by taking repeated measures of the dependent variable, empathy, as measured by the Hogan Empathy Scale, A convenience sample of subjects from two universities was included in this study.

Empathy scores were compared and analyzed by a three-way analysis of variance at the .05 level of significance and also three separate one-way analyses, Results established that graduate students and educators score significantly higher in empathy than first and …

Dental Hygiene Students' Perceptions Of Themselves And The Typical Dental Hygienist In Regard To Feminism, Christine M. Berg

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to assess dental hygiene students' perceptions of themselves and the "typical dental hygienist" in regard to feminism. The accessible population was composed of all first-year, second-year, and post-certificate dental hygiene students at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Data were organized according to a 3x3x3 factorial research design with age, Q.P.A., and educational level as the assigned independent variables. The dependent variable, students' perceptions of themselves and the "typical dental hygienist," was measured by the Feminism II Scale.

Repeated measures analysis of variance yielded no statistically significant difference …

Vocational Interests Of Dental Hygiene Professionals, Renee Johnson

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the vocational interests of dental hygienists according to occupational setting and highest level of education. The Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory was used to measure vocational interests of a random cluster sample of licensed dental hygienists.

An ex post facto 2 x 2 factorial research design was used. Occupational setting and highest level of education completed were the attribute independent variables and the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory scores was the dependent variable.

Two-way analysis of variance revealed significant interest differences between private practice dental hygienists and community practice dental hygienists, and between dental hygienists with a certificate or associate degree …

Life Goals Of Five Dental Hygiene Groups In Three Educational Settings, Kathleen Olivia Hodges

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated life goals of dental hygiene students and 1978., 1976, 1975, and 1974 graduates in three different educational settings.

The California Life Goals Evaluation Schedule was used to measure life goals of dental hygienists attending, or who had attended, Cuyahoga Community College· in Ohio, Idaho State University, and Old Dominion University in Virginia.

An ex post facto 5x3 research design was used. Year of graduation and educational setting were the nonmanipulated independent variables; ten scores on the California Life Goals Evaluation Schedule were the dependent variables; and age was used as a covariant.

Two-way multivariant analysis yielded no …

Values Of Dental Hygienists In Three Different Occupational Settings, Adele Cereghino Koot

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated values of dental hygienists in three occupational settings: private practice, community practice, and higher education.

The Allport, Vernon, Lindzey Study of Values was used to measure values of all licensed dental hygienists in North Carolina employed in one of the three occupational settings.

An ex post facto 3x3x3x4x4 factorial research design was used. Occupational setting, age, year of graduation, educational level, and length of time in present position were the non-manipulated independent variables; and the Allport, Vernon, Lindzey Study of Values scores were used as dependent variables. Five-way analysis of variance revealed no significant value differences among …

Creativity In Dental Hygiene Students And Dental Hygiene Professionals, Frances Lynne Jarrett

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to examine creativity in dental hygiene students, dental hygiene educators, and dental hygiene practitioners.

Torrance's creativity test, What Kind of Person Are You?, was used to measure creativity in a convenience sample of 231 subjects. Data were organized according to ex post facto research design utilizing educational and occupational status as the non-manipulated independent ,, variables, and What Kind of Person Are You? creativity scores as the dependent variables. The statistical tests, analysis of variance and chi-square were employed to analyze data for significant differences between and among the mean scores of all sample …

The Effects Of Oral Health In-Service Education In An Extended Care Facility, Marcia Brand Doloresco

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

A study was conducted to determine the effects of two oral health in-service teaching methodologies on intact groups of staff members and patients at two extended health care facilities. Oral health in-service education conducted by a dental hygienist (IV₁ ); and oral health in-service education with direct guidance of the staff's oral health services to patients by the dental hygienist (IV₂ ) were implemented at the Medicenters of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, respectively.

Base line and post evaluation data on the oral health status of each patient group were collected utilizing the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index. Base line …