Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
December 2012
Print ISSN:
1470-855
Vol:
13
Issue:
4

An assessment of a service-learning placement programme in residential aged care facilities for final year dental hygiene students

Doi: 10.4483/JDOH_013Wallace05

Aim: To record student feedback on a placement programme where students offered oral health assessments and oral hygiene advice to older people living in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) on the NSW Central Coast, Australia. Methodology: Final year Bachelor of Oral Health students from the University of Newcastle were asked to complete pre and post placement questionnaires relating to knowledge, willingness and ability to assess oral health needs and deliver oral health advice to RACF residents and staff. Results: Sixty seven students attended the placement programme, 50 (77%) completed the pre- and post- placement questionnaires. Mean Likert scores showed that students reported knowledge to assess the oral health needs of residents with Alzheimer’s significantly improved post placement (P<0.0001) as did their knowledge of how to produce oral hygiene educational material for RACF staff (P<0.0001). An improvement in ability to assess the oral health needs of residents with dementia was significant (P<0.01) and students reported feeling less nervous following the placement (P<0.0001). Student willingness to provide oral hygiene instruction, routinely work with older people in RACFs and speak confidently to RACF staff did not change as a result of the placement. Conclusions: The placement programme enhanced students’ reported knowledge and ability to assess oral health needs and provide oral hygiene instruction for older residents including those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. However, other aspects of the programme had no positive impact and require further research.

Key words: Special care dentistry, student placements, service learning, dental hygiene students, care of older person, dental education

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£0.00
Page Start
163
Page End
167
Authors
J A Taylor, F A Blinkhorn

Articles from this issue

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  • Pg. End

  1. Diary Dates
  2. 0
  3. 0

  1. Editorial
  2. 137
  3. 138

  1. An audit of the dental assessment of head and neck cancer patients and evaluation of a multi-disciplinary clinic
  2. 139
  3. 146

  1. Latex allergy and dentistry: a review
  2. 147
  3. 158

  1. Pre-transplant dental management of a patient with nephropathic cystinosis
  2. 159
  3. 162

  1. An assessment of a service-learning placement programme in residential aged care facilities for final year dental hygiene students
  2. 163
  3. 167

  1. Index to JDOH Volume 13 2012
  2. 172
  3. 173

  1. Thanks to reviewers 2012
  2. 174
  3. 175

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