Magnification and Coaxial Illumination in Dental Hygiene Education: Experience and attitudes of clinical educators.

: Static postural demands and precise movements involved with instrumentation, place dental professionals at high occupational risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Using magnification loupes and coaxial illumination may lower the risk of developing a future MSD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the experiences and attitudes among clinical dental hygiene educators in Ohio regarding requiring the use of magnification loupes and coaxial illumination in academic settings.: Clinical dental hygiene faculty members from the 12 dental hygiene programs in Ohio were invited to participate in a cross-sectional, electronic survey consisting of 28 items. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the educators' experiences with magnification loupes and coaxial illumination in academic settings.: Responses from 54 participants from the non-probability sample were analyzed. A majority (86%) of the respondents used magnification in their role as clinical faculty members; 94% felt that clinical faculty members and 92% felt students should be required to use magnification in academic settings. Of the 54% using coaxial illumination while caring for patients, 94% used illumination in their role as clinical faculty members. A majority of these respondents (94%) felt clinical faculty members, and students (82%) should be required to use coaxial illumination in academic settings. Improved ergonomics, increased accuracy, and efficiency were cited as the perceived rationale for mandating the use of magnification and illumination.: Dental hygiene faculty using magnification loupes and coaxial illumination in clinical practice and in academic settings supported requiring faculty and students to use magnification and illumination.