Research Reliability and Validity: Why do they matter?

The concepts of reliability and validity are explored in this short report. The importance of assuring that data collection tools are both reliable and valid are explored for use in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method study designs. Quantitative and qualitative attributes for achieving reliability and validity are provided.

Independent analysis: efficacy of sealants used in a public health program.

Purpose: This short report details part of the findings of a larger, multiphasic research study considering Quality of Care (QoC) and Quality of Life (QoL) for socioeconomic and underserved rural populations accessing dental health care through a Public Health Department. Improving oral health for families that are socioeconomically disadvantaged, with cultural disparities, or lacking access to care was the goal of this project. The purpose of this project was documenting effectiveness of oral health care when dental hygienists working through local area health departments, as an alternative delivery model, provide quality educational and preventive care services.

Direct assessment as a measure of institutional effectiveness in a dental hygiene distance education program.

This ten-year, longitudinal examination of a dental hygiene distance education (DE) program considered student performance on standard benchmark assessments as direct measures of institutional effectiveness. The aim of the study was to determine if students face-to-face in a classroom with an instructor performed differently from their counterparts in a DE program, taking courses through the alternative delivery system of synchronous interactive television (ITV). This study used students' grade point averages and National Board Dental Hygiene Examination scores to assess the impact of ITV on student learning, filling a crucial gap in current evidence.

Public health dental hygiene: an option for improved quality of care and quality of life.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to document quality of life (QoL) and quality of care (QoC) measures for families receiving care from dental hygienists within public health departments, and to consider if oral health for families with economic disparities and cultural differences was improved.

Methods: A descriptive research study using a retrospective record review was conducted considering QoC. A review of state epid "Do preventive oral health programs based in local health departments provide quality care services, thus impacting QoL for underserved populations?"

Results: A dental hygienist working in public health made significant contributions to improving access to care and QoL in a rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged community.

Application of a conceptual framework for distance learning in dental hygiene education and allied health disciplines.

Distance education (DE) and distance learning (DL) technologies use continues to experience exponential, global growth. Various DE delivery platforms are being used for dental hygiene and allied health programs offered in post-secondary education. However, a need exists to analyze factors of program and student success using DL modalities.