(PO-158) Mutual Interprofessional Education Among Dental Hygiene and Nursing Students

Author: W. Gail Barnes, Ph.D, RDH – Associate Professor Dental Hygiene, Clayton State University
Author: Angela Hollis, MSN, RD – Clinical Instructor Nursing, Clayton State University
Author: Victoria Foster, Ph.D. MSN, FNP-C – Professor of Nursing, Clayton State University
Author: Elicia S. Collins, PhD.. RN – Interim Assistant Dean, Clayton State University
Submitter: W. Gail Barnes, Ph.D, RDH – Associate Professor Dental Hygiene, Clayton State University

Objectives: The benefits of interprofessional education (IPE) include improved patient-centered outcomes, relationships with other disciplines, and an increase in knowledge base. The purpose of this program was to determine the level of mutual IPE retained knowledge of first-semester dental hygiene (BSDH) and undergraduate nursing (BSN) students after an IPE experience.

Methods: Three faculty pilot-tested a 10-item closed-ended pretest/posttest designed IPE questionnaire. The status was IRB-exempt. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) “Oral Health Total Health: Know the Connection” fact sheet states “periodontal disease is a risk factor for heart and lung disease, diabetes, premature babies, and other medical conditions.” After the convenience sample (n= 17) completed the pre-test, under faculty supervision, the BSN students (n=3) visited the dental hygiene clinic to instruct the BSDH students (n=14) on taking vitals. Next, the BSDH students performed oral hygiene instructions on the BSN students and reviewed the ADHA fact sheet with them. Next the BSN students instructed the BSDH students on how to take vitals (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respiration) and all students and most faculty completed the post-test (n=16).

Results: Pre-test and post-test scores respectively disclosed a marked increase score with: the “blood pressure artery to use” (85.7%, 100%), “periodontal disease is a complication of diabetes” (86.6%, 100%), “systolic is the first sound when taking blood pressure” (62.5%, 100%), and “diastolic is the last sound when taking blood pressure” (56.3%, 94.1%).

Conclusion: This program supports an increased knowledge base for the incorporation of shared IPE experiences for BSN and BSDH students in the clinical setting. Furthermore, based on the responses received from the convenience sample, the data will be used to prepare future IPE experiences with other programs on campus.