Dental Hygiene ETDs

Publication Date

6-25-2010

Abstract

This study was intended to measure knowledge change of direct care staff upon administration of an oral health education completed by lecture materials and/or hands on training. The study was an experimental design which included 30 participants from a local agency dedicated to provide services to people with disabilities. The sample consisted originally of two groups of 15 participants each. However, the actual number of participating subjects was 14 in the experimental group and 10 in the control group. Each group was randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental group. No specific criterion was set as to which participant was assigned to each group. The experimental group received a lecture and hands on training for a total of one hour and forty five minutes. The control group received a discussion facilitated by one of the investigators. Both the experimental and control groups received a pre- test and a post test. Considering all subjects together as a single group, n=24, the two sample t-test gave an estimated score difference of 0.05 which was significantly larger than zero (p-value=0.005), t= 2.168, df= 23, p-value= 0.005. Overall learning increased between tests. Considering the two groups independently, using a paired t-test to examine the data, the experimental group, n=14 had an estimated score difference of 0.0607 (p-value=0.01), t= 2.645, df= 13, p-value= 0.01, which was a significant improvement. The control group n=10, had an estimated score difference of 0.035 (p-value=0.14), t= 1.172, df= 9, p-value= 0.135, which was not a significant improvement. This study is beneficial in showing the influence of oral hygiene training for direct care staff who work with people with disabilities. Regardless of gender or education level, anyone providing services to people with disabilities can benefit from oral hygiene training.

Degree Name

Dental Hygiene

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Dental Medicine

First Committee Member (Chair)

SANCHEZ-DILS, ELAINE

Second Committee Member

LOGOTHETIS, DEMETRA

Third Committee Member

GIANOPOULOS, VICKI

Sponsors

ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE (ARCA)

Language

English

Keywords

DISABILITIES, DENTAL HYGIENE, ORAL HYGIENE TRAINING, ORAL HEALTH

Document Type

Thesis

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