title: Advancing oral health in physician assistant education: evaluation of an innovative interprofessional oral health curriculum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of an oral health curriculum was evaluated by measuring increases in knowledge about oral health topics and implementation of oral health skills in the clinical year.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-year, longitudinal oral health curriculum was developed and implemented. Student knowledge of oral health concepts was evaluated before and 2 years after the curriculum was implemented. Student performance of oral health skills was evaluated in the clinical year by electronic patient logging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students demonstrated significant and persistent gains in knowledge following the initiation of the curriculum. Students used oral health skills in the clinical year, particularly in the area of patient education about oral health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incorporation of an oral health curriculum can lead to lasting knowledge about basic oral health concepts and increased performance of oral health skills in the clinical year.
authors.affiliation: Child Health Associate Physician Assistant Program, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA. jonathan.bowser@ucdenver.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowser
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sivahop
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glicken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health / Q000193:education*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation