Dental hygienists' utilization of periodontal assessment skills and perceived collaboration with dentist-employer.
OBJECTIVE
As cotherapists in providing total patient care, dental hygienists must foster their pivotal role in the prevention, recognition, and initial therapy of periodontal disease. Cooperation and communication between the hygienist and dentist are necessary to assure the best possible sequence of procedures for a complete periodontal assessment. This study examined the extent of periodontal assessments performed by Ohio dental hygienists treating new patients in private practice and correlated the use of these skills to perceived collaboration with their dentist-employers.


METHODS
In January 1990, self-designed mail questionnaires were sent to a cohort of 1,671 licensed dental hygienists randomly selected from the State of Ohio Dental Board Roster. Data were analyzed using standard descriptive statistical methods and the non-parametric Spearman's correlation coefficient.


RESULTS
Responses were received from 1,071 subjects, an 81% response rate of deliverable questionnaires and a 64% response rate of original 1,671 subjects. Results suggest that although hygienists perceive a high level of collaboration with their dentist-employer, periodontal assessments are being performed at a minimal level. There appears to be a fairly consistent, weak positive correlation between overall periodontal assessment and perceived collaboration scores.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that continued emphasis is needed on the hygienist's role in periodontal assessment. Delineation of this role may be enhanced by the establishment of specific collaborative efforts between the hygienist and dentist in defining the practice's periodontal protocol.
Uldricks
J M
JM
Division of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University.
Hicks
M J
MJ
Whitacre
H L
HL
Anderson
J
J
Moeschberger
M L
ML
D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000523:psychology; D003815:Dentists; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009820:Ohio; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011364:Professional Practice; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires