(PO-141) Increasing Dental Hygienists' Confidence in Nutritional Counseling Using Motivational Interviewing
Sunday, March 20, 2022
1:00pm – 3:00pm EST
Location: Hall C
Author: Heather Anderson, Anderson, RDH, MSDH – Lecturer, Eastern Washington University Author: Sarah Jackson, Anderson, RDH, MSDH – Professor, Eastern Washington University Author: Lisa Bilich, RDH, MSEd – Professor, Department Chair, Eastern Washington University Author: Craig Hunt, RDN – Professor, Eastern Washington University Author: Elizabeth Tipton, Ph.D – Emeritus Professor, Eastern Washington University Submitter: Heather Anderson, Anderson, RDH, MSDH – Lecturer, Eastern Washington University
Objectives: Dental hygienists have the unique opportunity to educate patients on connections between nutrition and oral health. Dental hygiene students are introduced to these concepts but struggle to gain confidence to share this knowledge with patients. This pilot study looked at an educational module on motivational interviewing (MI) and an assessment and counseling tool to build student confidence with nutritional counseling.
Methods: Dental hygiene students participated in an educational module to review MI and introduce the nutritional risk assessment and counseling tool. Prior to the module, participants completed a pretest about confidence levels regarding MI and nutritional counseling. After three weeks of clinical practice, participants completed a posttest. Data was compared for quantitative changes and qualitative themes from responses.
Results: Twenty-two dental hygiene students (n = 22) participated in both the pretest and posttest. There were statistically significant changes in participants’ confidence (p = 0.007) and comfort (p = 0.020) discussing nutrition with patients. Participants struggled to become more confident in MI as demonstrated by no significant change in their feelings surrounding MI (p = 0.150). Students reporting increased nutritional counseling sessions showed improvement in their confidence.
Conclusion: Introducing MI with an assessment and counseling tool to aid students can improve confidence with nutritional counseling.
