Effects of mandatory continuing education related to infection control on the infection control practices of dental hygienists.
The infection control (IC) practices of dental hygienists, who were practicing in states with and without mandatory continuing education (CE) related to IC, were compared using a nationwide survey approach. The percentages of respondents from states with mandated IC CE, who reported compliance with 8 practices described in the current IC guidelines and acquiring more CE units and taking more recent IC CE, were greater (P < .005) than the percentages of respondents from states without the requirement.
Dental Hygiene Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA.
Noel
N
Kelsch
Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA.
Cheryl A
CA
Davis
Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA; Virtual Dental Home Clinics, University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA.
Gwen
G
Essex
Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA.
Lory
L
Laughter
Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Electronic address: Dorothy.rowe@ucsf.edu.
Dorothy J
DJ
Rowe
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education*; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Continuing education; Dental hygienists; Infection control; Infection control guidelines; Infection control practices