Assessment of the University of Michigan's dental hygiene partnership with the Huron Valley Boys & Girls Club: a study of students' and staffs' perceptions and service learning outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
The Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA) requires a health curriculum be taught. With the assistance of the University of Michigan (UM) Dental Hygiene program, these requirements have been addressed at the Huron Valley Boys & Girls Club (HVBGC) through dental  hygiene students presenting oral health education to club members throughout the year. This study assessed the outcomes and benefits of the service learning initiative between the UM Dental Hygiene Program and the HVBGC from both the students' and staffs' perceptions.


METHODS
Three  surveys were distributed: one to the HVBGC staff, one to UM's Dental Hygiene class of 2012 (with no service learning experience at the HVBGC) and one to UM Dental Hygiene classes of 2010 and 2011 (most of whom had experience at the HVBGC). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and  evaluated.


RESULTS
The respondents from the class of 2012 were less knowledgeable about the BGCA and access to care issues. The members of the classes of 2010 and 2011, 79% of whom had HVBGC experience, identified they had benefitted from this service learning experience. The HVBGC  staff survey indicated a high level of satisfaction with the student presentations and felt their curricular requirements were being met. Future topics of safety, orthodontics and gardening/nutrition were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates the service learning initiative  has been beneficial for both the UM Dental Hygiene students and the HVBGC. Future studies should use a longitudinal design to obtain baseline and post-service learning data.
Dental Hygiene, University of Michigan, MI, USA.
Sarah
S
Christensen Brydges
Anne E
AE
Gwozdek
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008824:Michigan; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit; D011203:Poverty; D011231:Preceptorship; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods