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Geriatric education in dental hygiene programs
Author(s) -
Tilliss TS,
Lavigne SE,
Williams K
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.1002/j.0022-0337.1998.62.4.tb03200.x
Subject(s) - coursework , dental hygiene , curriculum , medicine , geriatrics , geriatric dentistry , family medicine , population , oral hygiene , dentistry , gerontology , medical education , psychology , environmental health , oral health , pedagogy , psychiatry
This study examined the current status of geriatric curricula in dental hygiene programs in both the United States and Canada and was comprised of a twenty‐six‐item survey sent to dental hygiene programs. Responses (82 percent) revealed didactic requirements in 89 percent of programs and clinical requirements in 54.2 percent of programs surveyed. Mean didactic clock hours were ten (+/− 8.2), while clinical clock hours were 21.8 (+/− 27.5). Specific geriatric courses were found in only 18.8 percent of programs, while 81.2 percent integrated geriatrics with other coursework. Both clinical (98.8 percent) and didactic courses (81.5 percent) were taught primarily by dental hygiene faculty. Clinical experiences were primarily provided at extramural sites (79 percent). Half of schools surveyed (49.5 percent) felt their geriatric curriculum was less than optimal. The authors conclude that current levels of geriatric dental hygiene education may not meet the increasing demands of this growing population.