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Measuring the short‐term effects of incorporating academic service learning throughout a dental hygiene curriculum
Author(s) -
SimmerBeck M,
GadburyAmyot C,
Williams KB,
Keselyak NT,
Branson B,
Mitchell TV
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of dental hygiene
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.674
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1601-5037
pISSN - 1601-5029
DOI - 10.1111/idh.12015
Subject(s) - service learning , dental hygiene , curriculum , medicine , medical education , oral hygiene , perception , service (business) , nursing , dentistry , psychology , pedagogy , economy , neuroscience , economics
Objectives Academic service learning (ASL) provides the venue for dental hygiene education to take oral healthcare services directly into communities while at the same time promoting professional responsibility within the student bodies. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively examine the change in pre‐existing attitudes and behaviours of dental hygiene students following the incorporation of ASL activities throughout a five‐semester dental hygiene curriculum. Methods Seventy‐seven first‐year dental hygiene students who participated in ASL from the graduating classes of 2008–2010 participated in the study. A survey instrument developed by S hiarella, based on S chwartz's H elping B ehaviors Model, was used to assess students' attitudes towards community service. Additionally, questions were developed using S hinnamon's M ethods and Strategies for Assessing S ervice‐ L earning in the H ealth P rofessions. Results Internal estimates of reliability for scales ( C ronbach's α) were all > 0.8. The results revealed statistically significant improvements over time in enhanced learning ( P = 0.0001), self‐awareness ( P = 0.0001), sense of volunteerism ( P = 0.013), impact on career choices ( P = 0.001) and decrease in personal costs ( P = 0.0001). There were no significant changes in other subscales over time. Further investigating these domains revealed minimal to no changes in attributes of service learning. Conclusion Service learning integrated into the dental hygiene curriculum can enhance learning and improve students' self‐awareness, sense of volunteerism, career choices and perception of personal costs. In concert with the literature on ASL, these experiences throughout the curriculum have potential for increasing students' awareness of community need and their roles as oral health professionals.