Pilot study of dental hygienists' comfort and confidence levels and care planning for patients with disabilities

Abstract

A questionnaire assessing comfort levels and behaviors of dental hygienists concerning treatment of patients with special needs or disabilities was mailed to a random sample of 175 practicing dental hygienists in Idaho. All respondents had seen patients with disabilities, although 53 percent had never completed a formal course or received training directed specifically toward this population. Survey respondents were moderately to always comfortable treating special needs and disabled patients. Use of a wheelchair was the only disability in which clinicians were significantly more comfortable with treatment following completion of a course or receipt of training. Severity of a patient's disability and limited time were considered moderate to very high barriers to the provision of dental hygiene care. Recommended treatment planning techniques are being used to a limited extent, and respondents were slightly to moderately confident using alternative communication and treatment techniques. The findings suggest that although education or training was not strongly associated with comfort and confidence levels of these dental hygienists, they were interested in opportunities for further training in caring for patients with special needs.