title: Magnification loupes in U.S. entry-level dental hygiene programs--occupational health and safety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine policies and practices regarding magnification loupes among faculty and students in accredited dental hygiene programs as measured by a 31 item, self-designed questionnaire. In addition, the study compared policies among  dental hygiene programs in 2 year versus 4 year programs in terms of requirements for the use of magnification loupes.
  
  
  METHODS
  After institutional review board approval, a 31 item self-designed questionnaire was emailed via Survey Monkey to 303 entry-level dental hygiene  programs. An overall response rate of 75% was obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test of independence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results reveal the vast majority of programs do not require loupes for faculty or students, with only 23% of responding schools  requiring students to purchase loupes and 8% requiring faculty to use loupes. More dental hygiene programs require students to wear loupes than require faculty to wear loupes. No statistically significant differences (p-value=0.54) in program policies were found requiring the purchase  of magnifying loupes by students, based on 2 year and 4 year dental hygiene educational programs. Odds ratio (1.25) give the odds of students purchasing loupes in a 2 year program as 25% higher than a 4 year program. Almost two thirds of respondents reported loupes instruction as a curriculum  component, although most respondents spent 2 or less hours teaching in this area. Most programs (90%) do not plan to require students to purchase loupes in the future, although the majority believes proper use of loupes should be integrated in the curriculum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most respondents  see advantages to loupes, but clinical policies on loupes do not appear to correlate with beliefs. Educational programs in dental hygiene seem slow to adopt and require the use of loupes. Current clinical polices on loupes should be reviewed to ensure graduates experience the potential ergonomic  benefits magnification brings to clinical practice during their education.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dental Hygiene, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Leslie McHaney
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Congdon
authors.forename: Susan Lynn
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tolle
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Darby
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education*; D006804:Ergonomics; D005178:Faculty; D006801:Humans; D007909:Lenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States