What do they snapchat about? Patterns of use in time-limited instant messaging service

The critical incident technique (CIT) is a well-established qualitative research tool used in many areas of the health sciences, including nursing, medicine, and dentistry, and their respective education systems. It is a flexible set of principles that can be modified and adapted to meet the specific situation at hand. By gathering factual reports made by observers, researchers can build a picture of the situation under study. The CIT maximizes the positive and minimizes the negative attributes of anecdotes, effectively turning anecdotes into data. In this, the first of two companion articles, the origins and current state of the CIT and its potential applications in dentistry and dental education are described.

The Critical Incident Technique: A Useful Tool for Conducting Qualitative Research

This paper presents the results of the second phase of a Research Information Network study, which sought to establish the impact of e-journals on the scholarly behaviour of researchers in the UK. The first phase of the project was a deep log analysis of the usage and information seeking behaviour of researchers in connection with the ScienceDirect and Oxford Journals databases. This paper reports on the second phase, which sought to explain and provide context for the deep log data by taking the questions raised by the quantitative study to the research community via interview, questionnaire and observation. Nine major research institutions took part, six subjects were covered and the behaviour of about 1400 people was analyzed. Findings show that academic journals have become central to all disciplines and that the e-form is the prime means of access. Most importantly the study demonstrates that computer usage logs provide an accurate picture of online behaviour. High levels of gateway service use point to the re-intermediating of the broken chain between publisher and reader.

Researchers' e-journal use and information seeking behaviour

This qualitative study views international students as information-using learners, through an information literacy lens. Focusing on the experiences of 25 international students at two Australian universities, the study investigates how international students use online information resources to learn, and identifies associated information literacy learning needs. 

An expanded critical incident approach provided the methodological framework for the study. Building on critical incident technique, this approach integrated a variety of concepts and research strategies. The investigation centred on real-life critical incidents experienced by the international students whilst using online resources for assignment purposes. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews and an observed online resource-using task. Inductive data analysis and interpretation enabled the creation of a multifaceted word picture of international students using online resources and a set of critical findings about their information literacy learning needs. 

The study’s key findings reveal:
•	the complexity of the international students’ experience of using online information resources to learn, which involves an interplay of their interactions with online resources, their affective and reflective responses to using them, and the cultural and linguistic dimensions of their information use. 
•	the array of strengths as well as challenges that the international students experience in their information use and learning.
•	an apparent information literacy imbalance between the international students’ more developed information skills and less developed critical and strategic approaches to using information
•	the need for enhanced information literacy education that responds to international students’ identified information literacy needs. 

Responding to the findings, the study proposes an inclusive informed learning approach to support reflective information use and inclusive information literacy learning in culturally diverse higher education environments.

International students using online information resources to learn

Do we really need personal meetings to develop trust within teams? Which factors impact trust emergence within face-to-face and virtual teams? How do high-trust teams interact compared with teams w...

Trust in teams: A taxonomy of perceived trustworthiness factors and risk-taking behaviors in face-to-face and virtual teams:

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common developmental anomalies. Children with CHD are at increased risk of developing oral disease, and are at increased risk from the systemic effects of oral disease. Recent changes in guidelines related to prophylaxis against infective endocarditis have highlighted the importance of establishing and maintaining oral health for this group of patients. The management of children with CHD can be complex and, unfortunately, many of these children do not receive the care they require. The challenges that these children pose are discussed, and suggestions are made for the appropriate management of these patients and the key role that all those working in primary dental care have to play.

Dental health and management for children with congenital heart disease.

Evaluating dental students' experiences in pediatric dentistry may help dental educators better prepare graduates to treat the children in their communities. This qualitative investigation aimed to collect and analyze data using the critical incident technique (CIT). Sixty dental students at one southwestern dental school participated in 103 recorded interviews. They described 150 positive and 134 negative experiences related to the pediatric dentistry clinic. Analysis of the data resulted in the identification of four key factors related to their experiences: 1) the instructor; 2) the patient; 3) the learning process; and 4) the learning environment. The contribution made by the patient to dental students' education has not been previously addressed. The CIT is a useful data collection and analysis technique that provides rich, useful data and has many potential uses in dental education.

The Critical Incident Technique and Pediatric Dentistry: A Worked Example

This study evaluated nurses' current practices and understanding of oral health for hematology and oncology patients. A written questionnaire administered to 33 nurses on the pediatric cancer and blood disorders unit of Children's Medical Center of Dallas included questions on oral evaluation, oral hygiene, and case-based questions. Information gathered was used to develop an oral care protocol. The study found that nurses were proficient in diagnosing obvious conditions including mucositis and pseudomembranous candidiasis, but they were less than proficient when diagnosing less easily recognizable conditions such as xerostomia. The nurses were found to have inadequate knowledge of the treatment and oral hygiene protocols for conditions that they could and could not diagnose. The protocol based on the questionnaire results included information gathering, oral hygiene protocol, evaluation of viral infection, evaluation of fungal infection, oral assessment guide, and treatment protocol. Through information gathering, an oral health care policy may be developed and implemented to aid in the treatment of children undergoing care for malignancies.

Attitudes and practices of nurses on a pediatric cancer and stem cell transplant ward: adaptation of an oral care protocol.

BACKGROUND; Anomalies of dental anatomy are common in the ectodermal dysplasia syndromes. These anomalies, when found in combination with dental caries, can pose a restorative challenge for the paediatric dentist. Modification of traditional techniques and approaches may help the practitioner provide a successful treatment outcome. CASE REPORT: A 3 years and 11 months old girl with a diagnosis of ankyioblepharon-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft lip/palate (AEC) syndrome was referred for treatment to a specialist paediatric dental service. Her abnormal dental anatomy, hypodontia and dental caries formed a triad of challenges for the team. Under general anaesthesia, her dentition was restored using a combination of restorative approaches and techniques, including the placement of both composite resin and preformed metal crown restorations. FOLLOW-UP: At 18-month follow-up, the family had successfully implemented good home care and dietary practices, and the local dental service had instituted a preventive programe consisting of regular examination, advice and fluoride varnish placement. The restorations remained intact and no further caries was detected. At 24-month follow-up, the first permanent molars were partially erupted, and displayed unusually deep fissures. There was also a degree of ectopic eruption of the first permanent molars, and possibly of one of the maxilary permanent incisors. CONCLUSION: Dental care for children with AEC syndrome is optimised by early intervention, good home care and regular professional review. Dental care providers should be aware of the possibility of complex dental anatomy, and bear this in mind should it become necessary to formulate a restorative treatment plan.

Kirsten FitzGerald

Papers

The Critical Incident Technique: A Useful Tool for Conducting Qualitative Research

Dental health and management for children with congenital heart disease.

The Critical Incident Technique and Pediatric Dentistry: A Worked Example

Attitudes and practices of nurses on a pediatric cancer and stem cell transplant ward: adaptation of an oral care protocol.

Case report: Unusual dental morphology in a child with ankyioblepharon-ectodermal defects-cleft lip/palate (AEC) syndrome