(PO-088) DENT ECHO: A Virtual Mentoring Network for Rural Dental Practitioners

Author: Magda delaTorre, R.D.H. M.P.H. – Clinical Assistant Professor, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at San Antonio
Author: Rosalie P. Aguilar, PhD, MS, BBA – Project Coordinator, UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
Author: William D. Hendricson, M.S., M.A. – Specialist, UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
Author: Rochisha Singh Marwaha, B.D.S, MPH – Clinical Assistant Professor, UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
Author: Jeffery L Hicks, D.D.S. – Professor, UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
Author: Suman N. Challa, BDS, MS – Associate Dean for Advanced Education Programs and Strategic Initiatives, UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
Submitter: Magda A. de la Torre – UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry

Objectives: Oral health practitioners working in remote locations and underserved settings often have fewer opportunities to network with colleagues and obtain continuing education. Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) is used internationally to bring life saving measures and treatment to remote communities. Following the Project ECHO model, the Dental Education Network for Texas (DENT ECHO) launched in 2021. Objectives are: 1. To empower dental professionals and promote access to professional development using an “all teach, all learn” telementoring model. 2. To instill lifelong learning that aims to move knowledge not people, by connecting subject matter experts with community health professionals.

Methods: Participants attend bimonthly meetings for continuing education credits. Sessions consisted of a didactic presentation on relevant and timely topics and a related case study. Attendees completed a 13-item pre and post assessment, which asked knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and intentions for future practice questions. Most questions used a 5-point Likert scale and were analyzed using t-tests.

Results: An average of 25 pre and 33 post assessments were collected for May and July 2021 DENT ECHO sessions. Participants’ confidence for providing care increased after participating in May’s DENT ECHO session on oral health during pregnancy from 4.00 to 4.87 (t=4.954, p< 0.05) and career intentions to provide care to pregnant women increased from 4.33 to 4.87 (t=2.729, p< 0.05). For July’s session, attitudes about the importance of integrating oral health care into overall health care increased from 4.52 to 5.00 (t=4.40, p< 0.05) and intentions to advocate for better integration of oral and general health increased from 4.73 to 5.00 (t=2.62, p< 0.05). All six knowledge questions showed an increase and four were statistically significant.

Conclusion: DENT ECHO sessions were well received using a videoconferencing platform to present virtual clinics that facilitate case-based learning with real patients and scenarios.