A survey of dental hygienists in the United Kingdom in 2011. Part 1 – demographics and working patterns as dental hygienists

Oral healthcare workforce planning in post-Brexit Britain

The terms of the United Kingdom's (UK's) departure from the European Union (EU) are currently being negotiated. It is therefore uncertain exactly what effect they will have on planning the UK's oral healthcare workforce. Nevertheless, as 16% of dentists currently registered with the Genral Dental Council (GDC) have migrated to the UK from EU countries, this factor must be taken into consideration by workforce planners. However, it is far from being the only factor. This opinion piece therefore describes the current numbers of non-UK EU dentists and DCPs registered with the GDC and poses the question 'will they remain in the UK in the future'? It then comments on the current legislation on recognition of non-UK dental qualifications. It goes on to consider the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendation for dental practitioners, the oral healthcare needs of the population of the UK, who could address them and the implications for the Advancing Dental Care project

INSERÇÃO DO TÉCNICO EM SAÚDE BUCAL NO SISTEMA ÚNICO DE SAÚDE: A INSTABILIDADE DOS VÍNCULOS DE TRABALHO E A DESVALORIZAÇÃO PROFISSIONAL

Resumo A Política Nacional de Saúde Bucal destaca a importância da formação de pessoal auxiliar para a sua consolidação. Este estudo avaliou a inserção de técnicos em saúde bucal formados pela Escola de Saúde Pública do Ceará no Sistema Único de Saúde. Trata-se de estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvido em duas etapas. Na primeira, traçou-se o perfil profissional de 573 técnicos em saúde bucal ex-alunos da Escola. Na segunda, foram realizados grupos focais e utilizada a técnica de análise de conteúdo, na modalidade temática. A pergunta direcionadora foi: que aspectos influenciam na inserção dos técnicos em saúde bucal no Sistema Único de Saúde? Verificou-se que 73,3% estavam no Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde. Destes, 20,7% estavam cadastrados como técnico em saúde bucal e 67,9% como auxiliar de saúde bucal. Nos grupos focais, foram identificadas três categorias temáticas: interesse dos gestores; tipo de vínculo de trabalho; e valorização profissional. Concluiu-se que a maioria estava inserida no Sistema Único de Saúde, mas como auxiliar de saúde bucal. Na visão dos egressos, faltam interesse por parte dos gestores para contratação de técnicos em saúde bucal, vínculos de trabalho mais estáveis e maior valorização profissional.

Determining the optimal model for role substitution in NHS dental services in the UK: a mixed-methods study

Background

Maximising health gain for a given level and mix of resources is an ethical imperative for health-service planners. Approximately half of all patients who attend a regular NHS dental check-up do not require any further treatment, whereas many in the population do not regularly attend. Thus, the most expensive resource (the dentist) is seeing healthy patients at a time when many of those with disease do not access care. Role substitution in NHS dentistry, where other members of the dental team undertake the clinical tasks previously provided by dentists, has the potential to increase efficiency and the capacity to care and lower costs. However, no studies have empirically investigated the efficiency of NHS dental provision that makes use of role substitution.

Research questions

This programme of research sought to address three research questions: (1) what is the efficiency of NHS dental teams that make use of role substitution?; (2) what are the barriers to, and facilitators of, role substitution in NHS dental practices?; and (3) how do incentives in the remuneration systems influence the organisation of these inputs and production of outputs in the NHS?

Design

Data envelopment analysis was used to develop a productive efficiency frontier for participating NHS practices, which were then compared on a relative basis, after controlling for patient and practice characteristics. External validity was tested using stochastic frontier modelling, while semistructured interviews explored the views of participating dental teams and their patients to role substitution.

Setting

NHS ‘high-street’ general dental practices.

Participants

121 practices across the north of England.

Interventions

No active interventions were undertaken.

Main outcome measures

Relative efficiency of participating NHS practices, alongside a detailed narrative of their views about role substitution dentistry. Social acceptability for patients.

Results

The utilisation of non-dentist roles in NHS practices was relatively low, the most common role type being the dental hygienist. Increasing the number of non-dentist team members reduced efficiency. However, it was not possible to determine the relative efficiency of individual team members, as the NHS contracts only with dentists. Financial incentives in the NHS dental contract and the views of practice principals (i.e. senior staff members) were equally important. Bespoke payment and referral systems were required to make role substitution economically viable. Many non-dentist team members were not being used to their full scope of practice and constraints on their ability to prescribe reduced efficiency further. Many non-dentist team members experienced a precarious existence, commonly being employed at multiple practices. Patients had a low level of awareness of the different non-dentist roles in a dental team. Many exhibited an inherent trust in the professional ‘system’, but prior experience of role substitution was important for social acceptability.

Conclusions

Better alignment between the financial incentives within the NHS dental contract and the use of role substitution is required, although professional acceptability remains critical.

Study limitations

Output data collected did not reflect the quality of care provided by the dental team and the input data were self-reported.

Future work

Further work is required to improve the evidence base for the use of role substitution in NHS dentistry, exploring the effects and costs of provision.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Work assignments, delegation of tasks and job satisfaction among Danish dental hygienists

INTRODUCTION

Recent legislation in Denmark has made it possible for dentists to delegate their tasks to dental hygienists. Previous studies have shown that Danish dental hygienists primarily were performing assignments within their own work field. These assignments include prophylaxis or instructing patients in oral health care. However, studies have also shown that Danish dental hygienists performed dental nurse assignments such as chair-side assistance, unit cleaning and disinfection of instruments.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to investigate (i) the range of work assignments performed by Danish dental hygienists, (ii) the types of dentist tasks performed by Danish dental hygienists and (iii) job satisfaction among Danish dental hygienists.

DESIGN

Dental hygienists graduating in 2004-2007 were invited to participate in this study.

METHODS

Participants answered an email-distributed questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding job satisfaction, assignments performed, postgraduate course attendance, receiving assistance from a dental nurse and which work assignments Danish dental hygienists wish to perform in the future.

RESULTS

The results of this study showed that 90% of Danish dental hygienists were satisfied with their job and 52% were performing dentists' tasks. Among dentists' tasks performed by Danish dental hygienists, invasive caries therapy was the most frequently performed task.

CONCLUSION

The type of assignments performed by Danish dental hygienists today appears to be changing compared to previous studies. From initially performing prophylaxis and chair-side assistance for the dentist, Danish dental hygienists today are performing a wider range of tasks which includes dentists' tasks.

A survey of the sociodemographic and educational characteristics of oral health technicians in public primary health care teams in Minas Gerais, Brazil

BACKGROUND

To describe some sociodemographic and educational characteristics of oral health technicians (OHTs) in public primary health care teams in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed based on the telephone survey of a representative sample comprising 231 individuals. A pre-tested instrument was used for the data collection, including questions on gender, age in years, years of work as an OHT, years since graduation as an OHT, formal schooling, individual income in a month, and participation in continuing educational programmes. The descriptive statistic was developed and the formation of clusters, by the agglomerative hierarchy technique based on the furthest neighbour, was based on the age, years of work as an OHT, time since graduation as an OHT, formal schooling, individual income in a month, and participation in continuing educational programmes.

RESULTS

Most interviewees (97.1%) were female. A monthly income of USD 300.00 to 600.00 was reported by 77.5% of the sample. Having educational qualifications in excess of their role was reported by approximately 20% of the participants. The median time since graduation was six years, and half of the sample had worked for four years as an OHT. Most interviewees (67.6%) reported having participated in professional continuing educational programmes. Two different clusters were identified based on the sociodemographic and educational characteristics of the sample.

CONCLUSIONS

The Brazilian OHTs in public primary health care teams in the state of Minas Gerais are mostly female who have had little time since graduation, working experience, and formal schooling sufficient for professional practice.