Project Objectives:
Enhance integration of Motivational Interviewing within the Dental Hygiene Program’s curriculum through student application during patient care. Record student/patient health education interactions to provide both formative and summative feedback on application of MI skills to students.
Project Achievements:
Teaching Motivational Interviewing skills and also providing the opportunity for practice and feedback has had a significant impact on the students understanding of importance of this practice and confidence in doing so. MI has been used in addiction counseling for a number of years and only in the past decade has made its way to dentistry/dental hygiene. We are one of the first of a handful of Dental Hygiene Programs nation-wide that has enhanced health behavior change curriculum to this extent. We are now working to enhance faculty's comfort with MI and providing them with professional development opportunities to develop skills in coaching and assessing students.
Continuation:
Yes, we anticipate the project and its evaluation running through 2016. After that, if all goes as planned, it will be solidly integrated within the curriculum.
Dissemination:
This project has been the focus of two of the Master of Science in Dental Hygiene students' thesis research. One students' thesis has been completed and a poster was presented at the North American/Global Dental Hygiene Research Conference in Bethesda, MD (Oct 2014). A manuscript is being prepared for publication as well. The second Graduate student is just beginning her thesis research project. However, we plan on having her present a poster at a national meeting and prepare a manuscript for publication as well. This is targeted for 2016.
Advice to your Colleagues:
This project has been very successful. However, it needs to have a good amount of planning as the logistics for both recording interactions and grading/providing feedback require a number of individuals as well as the effective use of technology. Once the system/process was established, it has been running smoothly.
