Department of Dental Hygiene, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA.
Int J Dent Hyg. 2012 Feb;10(1):36-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2011.00510.x. Epub 2011 May 12.
The purpose of the qualitative study was to understand dental hygienists as adult learners and educators in their quest to improve access to care. The intent of this article is to share the results from open and focused coding procedures and the participants' rich stories from which the analysis was constructed.
A grounded theory approach to data collection and analysis was used. Data were collected from eight practitioners in three US states who met the inclusion criteria, using semi-structured interviews. Traditional grounded theory procedures with a constructivist emphasis on lived experiences of the participants and situational analysis were used to analyse the data.
The process of learning was experienced in three categories: Awareness, Adaptation and Relationships. Awareness was the process of learning participants experienced as developing consciousness of self, status quo, power and injustice of systems. Adaptation was constructed from experiences of specializing and creating to adjust to the new environments and prepare future practitioners. Relationships were developed to feel connected and collaborate to build support and gain respect to improve access to care. Dental hygienists as educators revealed one category: Improvement. Improvement was the process of educating others to enhance awareness, oral health and the dental hygiene profession.
Dental hygienists were adult learners by using their experiences in the context of their struggle to improve health inequities. A strong educator role was necessary to make improvements in the oral health delivery system.
本定性研究旨在了解口腔保健员作为成人学习者和教育者，努力增加获得护理的机会。本文旨在分享从开放性和聚焦性编码程序以及参与者丰富的故事中得出的分析结果，这些故事构成了分析的基础。
采用扎根理论方法收集和分析数据。从美国三个州符合纳入标准的 8 名从业者中收集数据，使用半结构化访谈。采用传统的扎根理论程序，强调参与者的生活体验和情境分析，对数据进行分析。
学习过程分为三个类别：意识、适应和关系。意识是参与者经历的学习过程，表现为对自我、现状、权力和制度不公正的意识。适应是通过专门化和创造来调整新环境和准备未来从业者的经验构建的。关系是为了感到联系和协作，以建立支持和获得尊重，从而改善获得护理的机会。作为教育者的口腔保健员揭示了一个类别：改进。改进是通过教育他人来提高意识、口腔健康和口腔卫生专业的过程。
口腔保健员通过在改善健康不平等的背景下利用自己的经验来学习，扮演着强有力的教育者角色，对口腔卫生服务系统的改进至关重要。
