Preparing the oral health workforce for multidisciplinary collaboration utilizing evidence based practices and service-learning activities


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

5129.0: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 12:45 PM

Abstract #109806

Preparing the oral health workforce for multidisciplinary collaboration utilizing evidence based practices and service-learning activities

Charla Lautar, RDH, PhD, School of Allied Health, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, M/C 6615, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901-6615 and Elaine T. Jurkowski, PhD, School of Social Work, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Quigley 4, M/C 4329, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901, (618) 453-2243, etjurkow@siu.edu.

One of the components of service-learning is to serve the needs of the community. Before this can be accomplished, roles of the various individuals involved in the partnership must be established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in perceptions of oral and general health issues between dental hygiene and social work students. This was done in order to develop multidisciplinary collaboration within service-learning through an evidence based model. A convenience sample of dental hygiene and social work students (n=198) was used. The survey instrument consisted of a series of open-ended questions related to definitions of various health professionals. A qualitative analysis was conducted to identify the roles which each of the health providers undertook, from the perceptions of the students. The analysis also revealed that there were differences in perceptions between the levels of students. These arose as a result of their exposure to these roles in the curriculum through a variety of service-learning activities and professional exposure. As more service-learning activities are integrated into the educational process of students, both students and oral health providers are impacted. It will be necessary for all partners to have an understanding of the functions of each other.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will

1. Become familiar with the use of service-learning as a strategy to understand collaborative practice.
2. Become knowledgeable about how service learning can heighten the awareness of our roles and other’s roles as partners in the multidisciplinary practice arena.
3. Understand how perceptions of others impact the services we are to provide through an evidence based approach.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation

Oral Health Workforce Issues

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA