title: Students' Perceptions of Teaching Methods That Bridge Theory to Practice in Dental Hygiene Education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Health care education requires students to connect classroom learning with patient care. The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygiene students' perceptions of teaching tools, activities and teaching methods useful in closing the gap between theory and practice as students transition from classroom learning into the clinical phase of their training.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an exploratory qualitative study design examining retrospective data from journal postings of a convenience sample of dental hygiene students (n=85). Open-ended questions related to patient care were given to junior and senior students to respond in a reflective journaling activity. A systematic approach was used to establish themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Junior students predicted hands-on experiences (51%), critical thinking exercises (42%) and visual aids (27%) would be the most supportive in helping them connect theory to practice. Senior students identified critical thinking exercises (44%) and visual aids (44%) as the most beneficial in connecting classroom learning to patient care. Seniors also identified barriers preventing them from connecting theory to patient care. Barriers most often cited were not being able to see firsthand what is in the text (56%) and being unsure that what was seen during clinical practice was the same as what was taught (28%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students recognized the benefits of critical thinking and problem solving skills after having experienced patient care and were most concerned with performance abilities prior to patient care experiences. This information will be useful in developing curricula to enhance critical thinking and problem solving skills.
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smallidge
authors.forename: Linda D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giblin
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D005791:Patient Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011340:Problem Solving; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011364:Professional Practice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000379:methods*; D013334:Students; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000193:education*; D013850:Thinking
keywords: clinical practice; reflective journaling; students' perspective; teaching methodology; theory-practice gap