Educational effects of dental hygiene student intervention in dental student clinical practicum

Given that dental and dental hygiene undergraduate programs, including clinical practicums, are typically housed within their respective departments, education on forming effective dental teams is often limited for undergraduate dental and dental hygiene (D-DH) students. We have established an interprofessional clinical practice program where dental hygiene students participate in the clinical practice of dental students, facilitating collaboration. However, research on its educational effects remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate whether the D-DH Collaborative Clinical Practicum (D-DH Practicum) improves dental students' readiness for interprofessional learning.

Data were collected over three years from 143 sixth-year dental students, 54 fourth-year dental hygiene students, and 134 cooperating patients who participated in the D-DH practicum. We evaluated changes between the pre- and post-practicum Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) scores.

Dental students' RIPLS scores significantly increased throughout the program (P <0.05), and they felt that this practicum changed their perception of dental hygiene.

The study demonstrated that readiness for interprofessional learning is significantly enhanced when dental students collaborate with dental hygiene students in clinical practicum.