Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, Department of Family Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, Department of Family Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
J Dent Hyg. 2024 Jun;98(3):31-40.
The integration of oral health and primary care offers promising solutions to overcome barriers hindering patient access to oral health care. However, primary care providers require training in basic preventive oral health care and information regarding interprofessional practice opportunities. The purpose of this feasibility study was to examine the perspective of families, learners, faculty, and administrators who engaged in an interprofessional training experience for family medicine residents and dental hygiene students. Family medicine residents and dental hygiene students participated in an interprofessional oral health integration training experience, which included didactic, preclinical, and clinical components. The clinical experience was conducted during a Medicaid Managed Care clinic session, which included the participation of children who had not undergone a well-child visit within the past year. The care teams were comprised of a family medicine resident and dental hygiene student, who collaborated on the provision of preventive oral health care services, including oral examinations, preventive interventions, patient education, and care coordination. Qualitative data gathered using field notes, focus groups, and key informant interviews were analyzed to identify themes from care team, patient/family, and administrative perspectives. The care teams provided preventive health oral health care services to 10 pediatric patients during their well child visit. Patients and family members reported appreciating the convenience and value of the care provided. The experience was well received by family medicine residents, dental hygiene students, and clinical faculty members, who highlighted the value of the experience in expanding access to care. The family medicine residents reported the training and interprofessional practice opportunity to be highly valuable, reporting better preparation for the identification, evaluation, and treatment of oral conditions that they may have otherwise overlooked or misdiagnosed. This interprofessional educational experience demonstrates the potential value of integrating preventive oral health in primary care visits for children. This care integration may be especially helpful for populations that experience barriers to oral health care. Results of this study suggest that expanding interprofessional education between dental hygiene programs and family medicine residencies may be beneficial for preparing the future workforce for integrated care. Additional research is needed to formalize training models that support integration and promote interprofessional collaboration and practice.
口腔健康与初级保健的整合为克服阻碍患者获得口腔保健的障碍提供了有希望的解决方案。然而，初级保健提供者需要接受基本预防口腔保健方面的培训，并了解跨专业实践机会的信息。本可行性研究的目的是调查参与家庭医学住院医师和牙科卫生学生跨专业培训的家庭、学习者、教师和管理人员的观点。家庭医学住院医师和牙科卫生学生参加了跨专业口腔健康整合培训体验，其中包括理论、临床前和临床部分。临床体验是在医疗补助管理式医疗诊所的一次就诊中进行的，包括参与过去一年未接受过儿童健康检查的儿童。护理团队由家庭医学住院医师和牙科卫生学生组成，他们合作提供预防性口腔保健服务，包括口腔检查、预防干预、患者教育和护理协调。使用现场记录、焦点小组和关键知情人访谈收集的定性数据进行分析，以从护理团队、患者/家庭和管理角度确定主题。护理团队在儿童的常规就诊期间为 10 名儿科患者提供了预防性口腔保健服务。患者和家属表示欣赏所提供的护理的便利性和价值。家庭医学住院医师、牙科卫生学生和临床教师对该体验的接受程度很高，他们强调了这种体验在扩大获得护理方面的价值。家庭医学住院医师报告说，培训和跨专业实践机会非常有价值，他们报告说，他们对口腔状况的识别、评估和治疗有了更好的准备，否则可能会忽略或误诊这些状况。这种跨专业教育体验展示了在儿童初级保健就诊中整合预防性口腔健康的潜在价值。这种护理整合对于那些难以获得口腔保健的人群可能特别有帮助。本研究的结果表明，扩大牙科卫生项目和家庭医学住院医师之间的跨专业教育可能有助于为未来的综合护理准备劳动力。需要进一步的研究来确定支持整合和促进跨专业合作和实践的培训模式。
