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2002 ADHA Special Interest Groups
During ADHA's recent annual session in Beverly
Hills, California, ADHA introduced special interest groups (SIGs). The
purpose of this introductory session was to provide members with a sense
of how ADHA came to develop the groups and to allow members the opportunity
to help determine the role SIGs will play in ADHA. Click below for more
information on ADHA SIGs.
SIGs Development
Between 1987 and 1999, there were a number of special
committees and task forces that focused on various elements pertaining
to special interest groups.
- Special Committee to Study Credentialing--Findings
indicate that credential does not equate with quality performance; credentialing
of specialties could lead to fragmentation if ADHA went the route of
specialization.
- Task Force on Accreditation--Charged
with investigating ADHA implementation of an accrediting system for
dental hygiene education programs.
- Task Force to Study Comprehensive Credentialing--Charged
with developing a comprehensive credentialing plan for the advancement
of dental hygiene education and practice to enhance the association's
ability to meet its responsibilities to the profession in licensure,
certification and accreditation
- Special Committee to Study Parameters of
Practice--Developed "Strategies to ensure delivery of the highest
level of preventive oral health care in order to improve the total health
of the public." Were eventually rescinded as they were deemed premature.
- Special Committee to Investigate a Dental
Hygiene Fellowship: Was dissolved due to insufficient support among
the members
- Special Task Force to Investigate Dental
Hygiene Specialties: Charged with "investigating all aspects
of ADHA recognizing specialty areas of practice such as gerontology,
periodontics, orofacial myology, veterinary dentistry, etc".
The group investigated other associations and what
they are doing along this line and charged staff with developing a survey.
They also developed a member survey to gain input from ADHA members.
Survey Results
In 1999, the Special Task Force to Investigate
Dental Hygiene Specialties was charged with "investigating all aspects
of ADHA, and recognizing specialty areas and practice. The group developed
surveys to investigate other associations' activities with respect to
Special Interest Groups (SIGs). In addition, the group developed a survey
to ADHA members to determine the level and extent of interest in the creation
of SIGs.
Association Survey
Results
Four of the eight associations that responded recognize specialty areas
through certification with a clinical component; about a third use advanced
education and training.
About half (four) of the organizations noted that
their SIGs are formally organized, are recognized by the professional
organization alone, require membership in the professional organization
prior to membership in the SIG, and are seen as a method to increase membership
and member activity.
Other factors noted were that these groups are
seen as a method to provide professional progress, personal rewards and
increase leadership authority in the area of the SIG.
Member Survey Results
The member survey identified the SIG as one pathway to the development
of specialty areas within a profession, and requested information about
their interest in specialty areas.
The members identified the specialty areas of interest
as periodontics, pediatrics, geriatrics, research, dental hygiene education
and corporate. These were combined with pre-existing areas of special
interest: tobacco cessation, independent practice, special needs, and
public/rural health. These 10 then formed the initial core of SIGs.
Members reported that they would like ADHA to offer
continuing education in these as well as other specialty areas. They collectively
expressed a positive attitude toward the role of specialties and SIGs
in dental hygiene and about 40% of the more than 200 respondents were
interested in a leadership role in the specialty field.
The task force recommended to the board of trustees
that ADHA initiates a pilot program of SIGs at the 2002 annual session.
The results of those meetings will be evaluated to determine the level
of interest, willingness to participate, cost-effectiveness, and long
term benefits to the profession. This will be accomplished by surveying
those who attended the SIG meeting.
Minutes
Corporate
Special Interest Group
June 19, 2002
Los Angeles, CA
There were approximately 15 in attendance. The
majority being from corporations. The group expressed appreciation for
this type of networking opportunity.
After much discussion, the group decided its focus
would be two-fold:
1) improve and increase awareness between corporate
and grassroots members
2) assist grassroots members and constituent organizations to understand
how to work within a corporate environment
Additionally, the group felt there were issues
that the corporate group could address and perhaps communicate to the
membership. These issues included the following:
- exploring ways to increase visibility with members
at the constituent level
- exploring ways to increase understanding and
change perceptions about corporate sponsorship
- publish an article on corporate relationship
building
Overall, the group felt the corporate special interest
group should continue as a regular component of annual session. They also
felt an hour was insufficient time and would like to see the SIG session
expanded to two hours.
The attendees also agreed that a Listserv would
be a helpful networking tool. Carol Jahn, RDH, MS, agreed to serve as
group leader.
Proceedings
of the Dental Hygiene Education ADHA Special Interest Group
June 19, 2002
There were approximately 40 dental hygienists in
attendance at the inaugural meeting of the Special Interest Group for
those interested in Dental Hygiene Education. The group formulated a statement
of purpose:
" To foster exchange of ideas and knowledge
among dental hygienists working in or interested in the Education field."
During discussion the members listed their expectations
of what the Special Interest Group would and could provide.
Networking:
· issues and topic areas for small group discussion
· technology
· mentoring
· opportunity to maintain contact with peers
Educational concerns:
· student experiences
· transfer issues
· standardization
· working with different populations
· sharing of curriculum materials
ADHA State Education Network:
· email communication
· potential listserv
· development of models of communication across issues and states
The members completed a survey regarding the session
and provided contact information for a future electronic distribution
list.
Proceedings
of the Geriatrics ADHA Special Interest Group
June 19, 2002
The group defined its purpose in terms of helping
to "cut through red tape in order to focus on providing care."
Focus areas that emerged included oral health prevention for the different
stages of aging, risk management, and education in the field of gerontology.
The members felt the special interest group should
feature a structured portion followed by the opportunity for networking.
Topics of interest included:
- current work situations and methods of care
- information on how those in the field got to
their present positions
- legislative and regulatory information on geriatrics
- funding sources
- coalition building:
- for health care workers who care for home-bound
- interdisciplinary networking
- sharing of experiences
- global geriatrics
- relationship between geriatrics and special
care dentistry
- job descriptions
There was consensus regarding the need for education:·
- dental hygiene educators' resources to assist
in student competency
- desensitizing students to elder care
- use of appropriate language and terminology
- the need for registered dental hygienists to
be on staff at elder care facilities
- the opportunity for dental hygienists to assist
in training elder care facility staff about oral health
Longer term goals included:
- dental hygiene specialization in gerontology
- certification in "interdisciplinary"
gerontology
- resource identification and sharing via e-mail
The group completed surveys about the session and
provided contact information that will form a potential electronic distribution
list.
Proceedings
of the Independent Practice ADHA Special Interest Group
June 19, 2002
The inaugural meeting of the special interest group
for those interested in independent practice was well attended by dental
hygienists interested in independent practice. The first activity was
the formulation of a statement of purpose:
"To foster the exchange of ideas and knowledge
among dental hygienists working in or interested in the independent practice
field."
After some discussion, the group felt that as this
special interest group was one of four that had already established counterparts
with a more formal agenda; therefore the time here would be best spent
as a networking session.
Proceedings
of the Pediatrics ADHA Special Interest Group
June 19, 2002
There were 15 dental hygienists in attendance at
the inaugural meeting of the special interest group for those interested
in pediatric care.
The group developed a statement of purpose:
"To promote knowledge and to foster exchange
of ideas among dental hygienists working in or interested in the field
of pediatrics."
There were several major areas the participants
felt should be part of the SIG mission and that should addressed In the
future. These will assist in meeting current needs and as pro-active measures.
These are as follows:
Acting as an advocates for children
- coalition building with private groups such
as the American Academy of Pediatrics or public health associations
on behalf of children's health issues
- networking with state governmental agencies
such as departments of education to increase access to care
- providing school-based dental hygiene services
Enhancement of patient care topics for continuing
education:
- practice and practice related issues
- education for both the patient and care givers
- create additional CE courses in pediatrics
- development of a speakers bureau to include
pediatrics
Professional Formal Education
- certification of dental hygienists in the area
of pediatric oral health
- education in the area for dental hygiene students
- dental hygiene curriculum development in baccalaureate
degree programs as a specialty area
- fostering research with measurable outcomes
with the goal of sharing information and publishing in the JDH
- grant writing
The group completed the SIG survey forms in order
to provide feedback and provided contact information sheets for a future
electronic distribution list.
Proceedings
of the Periodontics ADHA Special Interest Group
June 19, 2002
There were approximately 50 dental hygienists in
attendance at the inaugural meeting of the special interest group for
those interested in periodontics. The first activity was the formulation
of a statement of purpose:
"To foster the exchange of ideas and knowledge
among dental hygienists working in or interested in the periodontics field."
Among the issues discussed and considered, the
members expressed interest in:
- following a SIG format that would:
- offer the knowledge component first
- include a networking session with breakout
groups
- increase the amount of time for the session
- "Technology Day" at ADHA Annual Session
or constituent meeting with special focus on students
- The latest research in the area of periodontics
- specialty recognition
- coalition building
- partnering with the American Academy of Periodontics
- recognition of dental hygiene expertise in the
field
- public relations focus on the oral health-systemic
health connection
- focus on the research agenda
- grant writing
Educational concerns included:
- curriculum needs in dental hygiene education
programs balanced against time restrictions
- how to get new information and technology into
students' hands
- schools partnership to include a corporate link
to the ADHA SIG
Practice-related topics included:
- evidence-based care
- correct research data
- overall resources availability and needs:
- corporate entities
- web base
- general practitioner needs such as an image
library, photos, and case studies
- interdisciplinary focus on overall health impact
- sharing information via email
- corporate link to the SIG
The members completed surveys on the special interest
group and provided contact information that will form the basis of a future
electronic distribution list.
Proceedings
of the Public Health ADHA Special Interest Group
June 19, 2002
There were approximately 45 dental hygienists in
attendance at the inaugural meeting of the special interest group for
those interested in public health. The first activity was the formulation
of a statement of purpose:
"To foster the exchange of ideas and knowledge
among dental hygienists working in or interested in the public health
field."
After some discussion, the group felt that as this
special interest group was one; therefore, of four that had already established
counterparts with more formal agendas the time here would be best spent
in a networking session.
Proceedings of the Research
ADHA Special Interest Group
June 19, 2002
The inaugural meeting of the special interest group
for those interested in research was well attended by dental hygienists
interested in research. The activity chosen was a the strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis in order to help determine
the environmental factors that might affect the area of research and researchers.
Based on this preliminary data, the findings will help to guide the development
of a statement of purpose at the 2003 annual session special interest
group meeting in New York.
Strengths:
- clinical expertise
- enthusiasm and motivation
- range of levels of experience
- opportunity
- need
- published research in the Journal of Dental
Hygiene (JDH)
other health professions offer models to utilize
Weaknesses:
- fear due to inexperience
- isolation
- lack of support
- the need to teach critical thinking and scientific
writing skills
- lack of research background for educators
- defining "evidence-based"
- public perception of the profession
Opportunities:
- mentoring program
- development of a doctoral program in dental
hygiene to develop future researchers
- ADHA Institute for Oral Health online applications
- bringing along the next generation
- collaboration with nondental health care organizations
- National Center for Dental Hygiene Research
- publications such as the Surgeon General's Report
and Healthy People 2010
- use of both quantitative and qualitative research
methods
Threats:
- competition for research dollars
- lack of knowledge in grant writing
- organized dentistry
- private practice model vs. institutional model
for clinicians
- regulation of human subjects
- closing of university-based dental hygiene education
programs
- time
- how researchers are viewed by peers
- complacency
- research infuses dollars into dental hygiene
education programs
The group concluded the session with members completing
evaluation forms and submitting contact information which will form the
basis for a future electronic distribution list.
Proceedings
of the Special Needs Populations ADHA Special Interest Group
June 19, 2002
There were approximately 35 dental hygienists in
attendance at the inaugural meeting of the special interest group for
those interested in special needs populations.
The statement of purpose is as follows:
"To foster exchange of ideas and knowledge
among dental hygienists working in or interested in the field of special
needs."
In addition there were specific areas that the
members felt should be addressed and are integral to enhancing learning
opportunities. These are as follows:
- recognition of this special interest group as
an umbrella group that embraces the "Person First" philosophy
of care
- clinical application and networking opportunities
for students and practitioners. This would include presentations on
specific patient care situations, small group sharing of information
on case studies, and treatment/management techniques, and equipment
- addressing administrative issues such as insurance
codes and fiscal concerns such as funding sources
- increasing interdisciplinary relationships by
interfacing with other professional groups
- creation of an ADHA Web site or other electronic
mechanism to provide opportunities for mentoring through work-related
shadowing.
Members completed a SIG survey and provided contact
information sheets will enable those with a special interest in this area
to remain in touch with each other.
Proceedings of the Tobacco
Cessation ADHA Special Interest Group
June 19, 2002
There were approximately 25 dental hygienists in
attendance at the inaugural meeting of the special interest group for
those interested in tobacco cessation.
The first activity was the formulation of a statement
of purpose:
"To foster the exchange of ideas and knowledge
among dental hygienists working in or interested in the tobacco cessation
field."
The group discussed tobacco cessation activities
from the standpoint of different needs and applications.
Curriculum Development Issues:
- sharing resources
- earlier incorporation into the curriculum
- curriculum introduction for the transition between
first and second year of dental hygiene education
- student counseling for patient tobacco use
- dental hygiene faculty and student tobacco cessation
interventions
- faculty comfort levels
- National Institute of Health/National Institute
of Dental and Craniofacial Research-Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality Guidelines on Tobacco Cessation Interventions
Additional topics and issues were:
- availability of resources from the American
Cancer Society
- coalition funding sources
- government lobbying
- continuing education courses in tobacco cessation
- certification
- · the need to remain separate from the
forum
The members completed survey forms about the session
and provided contact information forms for a future electronic distribution
list.
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