Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2002

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

School of Dentistry

Department

Not Listed

Committee Chair

Christina B. DeBiase.

Abstract

While there is evidence in the literature of herbal supplement education in other disciplines, inclusion in dental hygiene curricula is not reported. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and extent of herbal supplement education in the 256 accredited dental hygiene programs in the United States. A survey was sent to program directors. Data analyses, including frequencies, cumulative frequencies, percentages, analyses of variance, and test of Chi Square were conducted using JMP program. Surveys revealed 63% of respondents (n = 160) included herbal supplement education and primarily incorporated it in the pharmacology course (67%). Statistically significant differences (p ≤ .05) occurred between programs offering herbal supplement education and whether they included questions regarding herbal supplement use on clinical health histories. It can be concluded that herbal supplement education occurs minimally in dental hygiene programs. When it is taught, patients in clinic are asked about their use, and continuing education courses are needed.

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