Jones Darlene M, Miller Sonya R
J Dent Hyg. 2018 Aug;92(4):27-34.
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) perceive gaps in health care providers' understanding of their health care needs are more likely to delay or not seek health care as compared to persons without disabilities. Oral health is considered an essential component of overall health, however, disparities exist in the United States, especially for persons with disabilities. Improving the education and training of dentists and dental hygienists may contribute to reducing oral health care barriers for PWDs. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether offering an education module about individuals with disabilities would change dental hygiene students' attitudes and capacity for informed empathy for PWDs. An educational module utilizing a DVD featuring authentic representation of PWDs, along with student discussions and self-reflection was developed and delivered to 165 (n=165) dental hygiene students attending a 2-year community college and a 4-year university. Students consenting to participate in the study were assessed regarding their attitudes and comfort towards caring for PWDs prior to, and following the educational module. Pre- and post-assessment measures included the validated Attitude Toward Disabled Persons, and Attitudes toward Patient Advocacy Microsocial (AMIA) scale. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) was used as a pre-assessment measure. A total of 58 (n=58) dental hygiene students, 35 (n=35) from a 4-year university and 23 (n=23) from a 2-year community college, consented for this study, for an overall participation rate of 35%. Scores increased significantly for both student groups after delivering the education module on the AMIA patient advocacy scale. Differences in IRI scores between the 2-year and 4-year dental hygiene programs approached statistical significance. An education module based on informed empathy with a focus on the experiences of PWDs can result in improved attitudes toward advocacy for this population.
与非残疾人相比，残疾人认为医疗保健提供者对其医疗保健需求的理解存在差距，因此更有可能推迟或不寻求医疗保健。口腔健康被认为是整体健康的重要组成部分，然而，在美国存在差异，尤其是对于残疾人。改善牙医和牙科保健员的教育和培训可能有助于减少残疾人的口腔保健障碍。本研究的目的是调查提供一个关于残疾人的教育模块是否会改变牙科保健专业学生对残疾人的态度和知情同理心的能力。开发了一个教育模块，该模块使用了一个以真实展现残疾人为特色的DVD，以及学生讨论和自我反思，并将其提供给165名（n = 165）就读于两年制社区学院和四年制大学的牙科保健专业学生。同意参与该研究的学生在教育模块之前和之后接受了关于他们对照顾残疾人的态度和舒适度的评估。评估前和评估后的措施包括经过验证的对残疾人的态度量表和对患者倡导微观社会（AMIA）量表。人际反应指数（IRI）被用作评估前的测量工具。共有58名（n = 58）牙科保健专业学生，其中35名（n = 35）来自四年制大学，23名（n = 23）来自两年制社区学院，同意参与本研究，总体参与率为35%。在提供关于AMIA患者倡导量表的教育模块后，两个学生组的分数均显著提高。两年制和四年制牙科保健专业课程之间的IRI分数差异接近统计学意义。一个基于知情同理心并关注残疾人经历的教育模块可以改善对这一人群倡导的态度。
