Hookah Smoking: Assessing College Students' Behaviors, Attitudes, and Knowledge.

The objective of this study was to assess college students' behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge regarding hookah smoking. A convenience sample of 200 students from various majors, including allied health and nursing students, was used to conduct this study at a university located in the Midwestern United States. Respondents were asked about any past, current, and future hookah smoking behaviors.

Effects of Yoga on Musculoskeletal Pain.

Musculoskeletal pain has been associated with work stress and a shortened career in the dental hygiene profession. The purpose of this study was to determine if participating in two yoga sessions per week would reduce the musculoskeletal pain reported by dental hygiene students and or impact body composition. A convenience sample of 77 dental hygiene students self-selected into treatment (yoga) and control groups.

Characteristics of dental hygienists based on Holland's career choice theory.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey 1,800 current licensed dental hygienists in the U.S. and identify broad and basic interest patterns within Holland's 6 General Occupational Themes.

Career influences and perceptions of pre-dental hygiene students.

Purpose: Dental hygiene programs have a responsibility to help potential applicants determine if dental hygiene is the best career choice for them. Good fit of career promotes a satisfied workforce along with retention within the profession. The purposes of this study were to describe students interested in dental hygiene, influential factors on career choice, and how perceptions of the profession were impacted by an introductory career course.

Patient satisfaction in a restorative functions dental hygiene clinic.

In 2003, the Minnesota Dental Practice Act was modified to allow dental hygienists and assistants to place amalgam, composite, glass ionomer, and stainless steel crowns. A restorative functions course was added to the curriculum of a dental hygiene program at a state university in Minnesota to teach these skills. Student requirements for the course included clinical experiences on a minimum of twelve patients, as outlined by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry.

ADHA's focus on advancing the profession: Minnesota's dental hygiene educators' response.

Purpose: Developing degree-completion programs to enable associate-prepared dental hygienists to complete a baccalaureate degree is essential to help advance the profession. This study determined current associate degree dental hygiene students' interest in degree completion, preferred educational venue, and examined if current interest in course topics supports the ADHA's Focus on Advancing the Profession.

Methods: A 55-item survey was designed and distributed to 296 first-year and second-year dental hygiene students enrolled in 8 Minnesota associate degree programs during fall 2004.

Allied restorative functions training in Minnesota: a case study.

In 2003, the Minnesota Dental Practice Act was modified to allow dental hygienists and assistants to place amalgam, composite, glass ionomer, and stainless steel crowns. The concept of utilizing allied professionals to perform expanded functions has been suggested as a way to increase access to care and productivity. A continuing education course was offered to provide required certification for interested dental practitioners (N=12).

Barriers to tobacco cessation counseling and effectiveness of training.

The oral health care appointment provides a unique opportunity for tobacco cessation counseling (TCC). This literature review examines the effectiveness of training oral health care professionals for TCC, including the barriers to providing counseling. Undergraduate education and continuing education are both effective methods for training health care professionals in TCC.

Promotion of tobacco cessation through dental hygiene education: a pilot study.

Unlabelled: The purposes of this pilot study were as follows: 1) to determine the percentage and frequency of dental hygiene graduates who were providing tobacco cessation counseling (TCC) activities, after receiving TCC training during their formative years of education; 2) to identify the graduates' stages of change using the transtheoretical model regarding TCC; and 3) to identify factors influencing the delivery of TCC. A convenience sample of fifty-one Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) dental hygiene graduates were surveyed in this study. Wilcoxen signed rank tests were used to analyze the relationship between counseling actions and dental hygienists' stage of change in four TCC activities: asking, advising, assisting, and arranging follow-up.