Effective Clinical Dental Hygiene Educators: A Qualitative Study of Perspectives of Students and Educators

Clinical instruction is a vital aspect of healthcare education, equipping students with critical skills and knowledge in practical environments. However, many clinical educators lack formal training in teaching techniques despite the significant role of clinical instruction. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perspectives of dental hygiene students and educators on the key characteristics that define an effective clinical dental hygiene instructor.

This study employed an exploratory online focus group design with a purposive sample of dental hygiene educators and students from the United States (IRB-FY2025-28). Separate interview guides were created for educators and students, and focus group interviews were conducted via Zoom during the fall semester of 2024. The sessions lasted 45-60 min and were recorded and saved to an encrypted, password-protected account. Qualitative data were analyzed using the Dedoose platform (Los Angeles, CA, USA), with responses coded and categorized into parent and child codes based on participant feedback.

Data analysis involved inductive coding to identify emerging themes. Twelve clinical dental hygiene educators and 22 dental hygiene students participated in the study. The themes identified from student responses included Responsiveness, Performance, and Empowerment, while educator themes encompassed Alignment, Integrity, Facilitation, Enlightenment, and Leadership.

This study highlighted the key characteristics of effective clinical dental hygiene educators, as identified by both students and educators. The findings emphasized the importance of attributes such as responsiveness, performance, alignment, and leadership. Further research is needed to develop standardized training programs and best practices for clinical instructors.