title: Geriatric education in dental hygiene programs.
abstract: This study examined the current status of geriatric curricula in dental hygiene programs in both the United States and Canada and was comprised of a twenty-six-item survey sent to dental hygiene programs. Responses (82 percent) revealed didactic requirements in 89 percent of programs and clinical requirements in 54.2 percent of programs surveyed. Mean didactic clock hours were ten (+/- 8.2), while clinical clock hours were 21.8 (+/- 27.5). Specific geriatric courses were found in only 18.8 percent of programs, while 81.2 percent integrated geriatrics with other coursework. Both clinical (98.8 percent) and didactic courses (81.5 percent) were taught primarily by dental hygiene faculty. Clinical experiences were primarily provided at extramural sites (79 percent). Half of schools surveyed (49.5 percent) felt their geriatric curriculum was less than optimal. The authors conclude that current levels of geriatric dental hygiene education may not meet the increasing demands of this growing population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Hygiene, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, School of Dentistry, Denver 80262, USA. Terri.Tillis@uchs.edu
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Tilliss
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lavigne
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003479:Curriculum; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005178:Faculty; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D011231:Preceptorship; D013663:Teaching; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States