Loss of Periodontal Attachment in HIV‐Seropositive Military Personnel

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141395/1/jper0421.pd

Nurse Practitioners' Use of Communication Techniques: Results of a Maryland Oral Health Literacy Survey

Funding for Open Access provided by the UMD Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund.Objectives: We examined nurse practitioners’ use and opinions of recommended communication techniques for the promotion of oral health as part of a Maryland state-wide oral health literacy assessment. Use of recommended health-literate and patient-centered communication techniques have demonstrated improved health outcomes. Methods: A 27-item self-report survey, containing 17 communication technique items, across 5 domains, was mailed to 1,410 licensed nurse practitioners (NPs) in Maryland in 2010. Use of communication techniques and opinions about their effectiveness were analyzed using descriptive statistics. General linear models explored provider and practice characteristics to predict differences in the total number and the mean number of communication techniques routinely used in a week. Results: More than 80% of NPs (N = 194) routinely used 3 of the 7 basic communication techniques: simple language, limiting teaching to 2–3 concepts, and speaking slowly. More than 75% of respondents believed that 6 of the 7 basic communication techniques are effective. Sociodemographic provider characteristics and practice characteristics were not significant predictors of the mean number or the total number of communication techniques routinely used by NPs in a week. Potential predictors for using more of the 7 basic communication techniques, demonstrating significance in one general linear model each, were: assessing the office for user-friendliness and ever taking a communication course in addition to nursing school. Conclusions: NPs in Maryland self-reported routinely using some recommended health-literate communication techniques, with belief in their effectiveness. Our findings suggest that NPs who had assessed the office for patient-friendliness or who had taken a communication course beyond their initial education may be predictors for using more of the 7 basic communication techniques. These self-reported findings should be validated with observational studies. Graduate and continuing education for NPs should increase emphasis on health-literate and patient-centered communication techniques to increase patient understanding of dental caries prevention. Non-dental healthcare providers, such as NPs, are uniquely positioned to contribute to preventing early childhood dental caries through health-literate and patient-centered communication

Preventive dental knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in a clinic population

PLEASE NOTE: This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community: please click Download and log in with a valid BU account to access. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact [email protected] (M.S.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1976 (Dental Public Heath).Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-56)

The Use of Recommended Communication Techniques by Maryland Family Physicians and Pediatricians

<div><p>Background</p><p>Health literacy experts and the American Medical Association have developed recommended communication techniques for healthcare providers given that effective communication has been shown to greatly improve health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the number and types of communication techniques routinely used by Maryland physicians.</p><p>Methods</p><p>In 2010, a 30-item survey was mailed to a random sample of 1,472 Maryland family physicians and pediatricians, with 294 surveys being returned and usable. The survey contained questions about provider and practice characteristics, and 17 items related to communication techniques, including seven basic communication techniques. Physicians’ use of recommended communication techniques was analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and ordinary least squares regression.</p><p>Results</p><p>Family physicians routinely used an average of 6.6 of the 17 total techniques and 3.3 of the seven basic techniques, whereas pediatricians routinely used 6.4 and 3.2 techniques, respectively. The use of simple language was the only technique that nearly all physicians routinely utilized (Family physicians, 91%; Pediatricians, 93%). Physicians who had taken a communications course used significantly more techniques than those who had not. Physicians with a low percentage of patients on Medicaid were significantly less likely to use the recommended communication techniques compared to those providers who had high proportion of their patient population on Medicaid.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Overall, the use of recommended communication techniques was low. Additionally, many physicians were unsure of the effectiveness of several of the recommended techniques, which could suggest that physicians are unaware of valuable skills that could enhance their communication. The findings of this study suggest that communications training should be given a higher priority in the medical training process in the United States.</p></div

Percentage of Nurse Practitioners Reporting Routine Use of Each Communication Technique.

<p>Percentage of Nurse Practitioners Reporting Routine Use of Each Communication Technique.</p

Ordinary Least Squares Regression Results of Predictor Variables on Number of Recommended Communication Techniques Routinely Used by Nurse Practitioners.

<p>Ordinary Least Squares Regression Results of Predictor Variables on Number of Recommended Communication Techniques Routinely Used by Nurse Practitioners.</p

Characteristics of Nurse Practitioner Survey Respondents.

<p>Characteristics of Nurse Practitioner Survey Respondents.</p

Percent Distribution of Communication Techniques Routinely Used by Nurse Practitioners.

<p>Percent Distribution of Communication Techniques Routinely Used by Nurse Practitioners.</p