Introduction to the practice of statistics, (3rd edition), by David S. Moore and George P. McCabe. Pp. 825 (with appendices and CD-ROM). £27.95. 1999. ISBN 0 7167 3502 4 (W. H. Freeman).

My organization, the North Carolina Educational Computing Service (NCECS), is a regional computer center currently serving forty institutions of higher education in North Carolina. We have been heavily involved in faculty training since our network began in 1967. After about two years of network operation, we realized that computer usage in disciplines other than computer science was very limited. We saw a need for efforts by the central staff to develop computer use in the physical sciences, the social sciences, business administration, etc. I would like to spend my time today not on technical training but on NCECS activities to promote computer use in a variety of disciplines—an area we call “curriculum development.”We received a grant from the National Science Foundation 2-1/2 years ago to support a statewide program of cooperative curriculum development. The program has included collection and development of curriculum materials, introducing the materials to faculties and students across the state through workshops, documentation, and supporting the materials by both technical and information services. One of the first things we did was to create a position of Curriculum Development Manager on the central staff, and to obtain someone who was primarily an educator (with broad interests in computer applications) rather than a computer scientist. The program described below has been managed by Dr. Joe Denk, Curriculum Development Manager for NCECS, and the following description was derived from his reports.

Faculty development

Background 
This review aimed at examining the prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases and pain among dental professionals in Western countries. Furthermore, possible occupational risk factors were analyzed.


Methods 
The literature search was conducted from June to July 2016, with an update in December 2017 using the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, LIVIVO, Science Direct, PubMed, and Web of Science. The quality assessment was performed with a standardized instrument consisting of 10 items. A meta-analysis was carried out to compute pooled prevalence rates for musculoskeletal diseases and pain.


Results 
A total of 41 studies were included in this review; 30 studies met the criteria for the meta-analysis. Prevalence rates of musculoskeletal diseases and pain among dental professionals ranged from 10.8% to 97.9%. The neck was the body region affected most often (58.5%, 95% CI = 46.0–71.0) followed by the lower back (56.4%, 95% CI = 46.1–66.8), the shoulder (43.1%, 95% CI = 30.7–55.5) and the upper back (41.1%, 95% CI = 32.3–49.9). Potential occupational risk factors included an awkward working posture, high number of treated patients, administrative work, vibration, and repetition.


Conclusions 
Musculoskeletal diseases and pain are a significant health burden for dental professionals. This study showed high prevalence rates for several body regions. Therefore, suitable interventions for preventing musculoskeletal diseases and pain among dental professionals are needed.

/pdf/prevalence-and-occupational-risk-factors-of-musculoskeletal-4qu9mi9p7b.pdf

Prevalence and occupational risk factors of musculoskeletal diseases and pain among dental professionals in Western countries: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

To cite this article:
Int J Dent Hygiene10, 2012; 265–269 
DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2011.00536.x

Hayes MJ, Taylor JA, Smith DR. Predictors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dental hygienists.

Abstract:  Objectives: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) have been recognized as a considerable problem for the dental hygiene profession, with the majority of professionals reporting musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this study was to investigate which risk factors may help predict MSD among Australian dental hygienists. Methods: A modified version of the Standardised Nordic questionnaire was distributed to registered hygienists throughout Australia. Results: Logistic regression analysis revealed a variety of work-related and psychosocial factors that correlate with reported MSD, including scaling tasks, type of practice and work interference in home life. Statistical predictors for non-reporting of MSD included wearing loupes, ergonomics education and wage satisfaction. Concerning is the impact on the profession, with an association between MSD and hygienists considering reducing working hours or even alternate careers. Conclusions: In general, it appears as though the causes of MSD among dental hygienists may be multifactorial, as may be the solutions to this problem. Further research is required to objectively examine whether controllable variables can be implemented as preventive strategies or interventions for MSD.

Predictors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dental hygienists.

Oral cancer makes up 1%-2% of all cancers that may arise in the body. The majority of oral cancers consists of squamous cell carcinomas. Oral cancer carries a considerable mortality rate, being mainly dependent on the stage of the disease at admission. Worldwide some 50% of the patients with oral cancer present with advanced disease. There are several ways of trying to diagnose oral cancer in a lower tumor stage, being 1) mass screening or screening in selected patients, 2) reduction of patients� delay, and 3) reduction of doctors� delay. Oral cancer population-based screening (�mass screening�) programs do not meet the guidelines for a successful outcome. There may be some benefit when focusing on high-risk groups, such as heavy smokers and heavy drinkers. Reported reasons for patients� delay range from fear of a diagnosis of cancer, limited accessibility of primary health care, to unawareness of the possibility of malignant oral diseases. Apparently, information campaigns in news programs and TV have little effect on patients� delay. Mouth self-examination may have some value in reducing patients� delay. Doctors� delay includes dentists� delay and diagnostic delay caused by other medical and dental health care professionals. Doctors� delay may vary from almost zero days up to more than six months. Usually, morbidity of cancer treatment is measured by quality of life (QoL) questionnaires. In the past decades this topic has drawn a lot of attention worldwide. It is a challenge to decrease the morbidity that is associated with the various treatment modalities that are used in oral cancer without substantially compromising the survival rate. Smoking cessation contributes to reducing the risk of oral cancers, with a 50% reduction in risk within five years. Indeed, risk factor reduction seems to be the most effective tool in an attempt to decrease the morbidity and mortality of oral cancer.

/pdf/are-we-able-to-reduce-the-mortality-and-morbidity-of-oral-50jrvku7ub.pdf

Are we able to reduce the mortality and morbidity of oral cancer; Some considerations

The chair-side work posture of dental hygienists has long been a concern because of health-related problems potentially caused or exacerbated by poor posture. The purpose of this study was to investigate if using magnification loupes improved dental hygiene students' posture during provision of treatment. The treatment chosen was hand-scaling, and the effect of the timing of introduction of the loupes to students was also examined. Thirty-five novice dental hygiene students took part in the study. Each student was assessed providing dental hygiene care with and without loupes, thus controlling for innate differences in natural posture. Students were randomized into two groups. Group one used loupes in the first session and did not use them for the second session. Group two reversed this sequence. At the end of each session, all students were videotaped while performing scaling procedures. Their posture was assessed using an adapted version of Branson et al.'s Posture Assessment Instrument (PAI). Four raters assessed students at three time periods for nine posture components on the PAI. A paired t-test compared scores with and without loupes for each student. Scores showed a significant improvement in posture when using loupes (p<0.0001), and these improvements were significantly more pronounced for students starting loupes immediately on entering the program compared with students who delayed until the second session (p<0.1). These results suggest a significant postural benefit is realized by requiring students to master the use of magnification loupes as early as possible within the curriculum.

Effect of magnification loupes on dental hygiene student posture.

There is a need to explore approaches in faculty development that will foster change in actual teaching practices. The literature suggests that there should be more deliberate use of theory in faculty development research. This study addressed this gap in the literature by exploring social learning theory in the context of communities of practice and applying this theory to a dental hygiene faculty development program. The purpose of the study was to determine if participation in a community of practice helped dental hygiene clinical instructors implement new teaching strategies by providing ongoing support for their learning. In addition, the study explored whether the level of participation in the community changed over time. A retrospective self-assessment questionnaire consisting of four open-ended questions was administered to a group of clinical dental hygiene instructors at the end of the 2010 academic year. The narrative data were analyzed thematically using qualitative methodology. The results indicated that participation in the community of practice helped clinical instructors make effective changes in their teaching practices by optimizing social learning opportunities. The responses also revealed that instructors became more comfortable participating in discussions as they identified with other members of this unique community.

A Model for Cultivating Dental Hygiene Faculty Development Within a Community of Practice

As part of their curriculum, senior dental hygiene students at Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry provide tobacco cessation counseling (TCC). This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the TCC didactic curriculum and its clini- cal extensions. Research methods included a comprehensive literature search, an assessment of available resources related to TCC, and a structured telephone interview. The interview, consisting of ten summative questions, was conducted to determine the current tobacco use status of clients who had been counseled by a dental hygiene student for tobacco cessation. A target popula- tion of 132 subjects was extracted from axiUm, Dalhousie University dental clinic's patient database. The population represented clients who had TCC from 2001 to 2008. The investigators wanted to know if the client was 1) advised to quit tobacco use; 2) in- formed of the health risks of using tobacco; 3) still using tobacco; 4) taught self-examination techniques for oral cancer; and 5) if any post-counseling follow-up was initiated. A convenience size of fifty-one subjects was obtained. Survey results, along with the assessment of resources, revealed that the current TCC program needed improvement. As a result of the research, changes were implemented aimed at improving the effectiveness of the TCC program, and recommendations were made for further changes to enhance the overall program effectiveness.

J. Peggy Maillet

Papers

Effect of magnification loupes on dental hygiene student posture.

A Model for Cultivating Dental Hygiene Faculty Development Within a Community of Practice

Evaluation of Outcomes for Tobacco Cessation Counseling in the Dalhousie University Dental Hygiene Curriculum

Corrosion potential recovery of dental amalgam restorations following prophylaxis