Langelier Margaret H, Glicken Anita Duhl, Surdu Simona
Margaret H. Langelier, MSHSA, is a project director at the Center for Health Workforce Studies in the School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, New York. Anita Duhl Glicken, MSW, is the former president/CEO of the nccPA Health Foundation, program consultant for the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health, and associate dean and professor Emerita at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado. Simona Surdu, MD, PhD, is a senior research associate at the Center for Health Workforce Studies in the School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, New York.
J Physician Assist Educ. 2015 Jun;26(2):60-9. doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000024.
The purpose of the study was to describe inclusion of didactic and clinical instruction in oral health in physician assistant (PA) education programs in 2014. A previous study in 2008 found that PA education program directors generally understood the importance of teaching about the linkage of oral health with systemic health; yet, few programs had actually integrated oral health instruction into the PA curriculum. This study was undertaken to ascertain the number of PA programs teaching oral health topics and to evaluate the content of instruction and implementation strategies.
The study used a Web-based survey using a skip logic design that branched respondents based on inclusion or the absence of an oral health curriculum in the PA education program. The questions included predefined response options with the opportunity for narrative responses and comments. Analysis of survey data was completed using SPSS (IBM) and SAS (SAS Institute, Inc) and consisted mainly of frequencies and cross tabulations.
There was greater inclusion of oral health curriculum in 2014 than in 2008 with most PA programs now providing didactic and clinical training in oral health. Stakeholders' efforts to engage PA program faculty with integration of oral health subject matter into core curriculum have resulted in wider availability of training for PA students in oral health promotion and prevention services.
Efforts to equip PA faculty to teach oral health topics and clinical skills should continue as past efforts have resulted in wider integration of oral health subject matter into core PA curriculum.
本研究旨在描述2014年医师助理（PA）教育项目中口腔健康方面的理论教学和临床指导内容。2008年的一项先前研究发现，PA教育项目主任普遍理解讲授口腔健康与全身健康之间联系的重要性；然而，很少有项目将口腔健康指导实际纳入PA课程。本研究旨在确定讲授口腔健康主题的PA项目数量，并评估教学内容和实施策略。
本研究采用基于网络的调查，使用跳转逻辑设计，根据PA教育项目中是否包含口腔健康课程对受访者进行分支。问题包括预定义的回答选项，并有叙述性回答和评论的机会。使用SPSS（IBM）和SAS（SAS Institute, Inc）完成对调查数据的分析，主要包括频率和交叉表。
2014年口腔健康课程的纳入情况比2008年有所改善，现在大多数PA项目都提供口腔健康方面的理论教学和临床培训。利益相关者努力让PA项目教师将口腔健康主题纳入核心课程，这使得PA学生在口腔健康促进和预防服务方面有了更广泛的培训机会。
由于过去的努力已使口腔健康主题更广泛地融入PA核心课程，因此应继续努力使PA教师有能力教授口腔健康主题和临床技能。
