| Popis: |
The administration of local anesthesia is an important focus in the field of dentistry, and its application has facilitated painless treatment among patients, allowing dental professionals to provide appropriate patient care. Current research related to the success and safety of local anesthesia application among registered dental hygienists, evidences its importance. However, there presents a lack of research related to the administration of local anesthetic among dental hygienists in different practice settings, as well as the utilization rate. The purpose of this study is to: identify the utilization rate of local anesthesia by dental hygienists and identify the reasoning associated with use or non-use of this skill. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey research design was used on a non-probability sample of dental hygienists practicing in the state of Ohio. The survey was designed with demographic questions, questions regarding use of local anesthesia, the non-use of local anesthesia, and attitudes related to local anesthesia application. The data evidenced that 95.7% reported having administered local anesthesia while licensed. Results further indicated that 93.5% reported that they like to administer local anesthesia. The findings from this study suggest that there is active utilization of local anesthesia among registered dental hygienists and that there is an appreciation for the skill. Additional research is recommended to explore the qualitative reasons for use and non-use of local anesthesia and the perceptions related to this skill, and to better understand the potential relationships among variables associated with the profession of dental hygiene and local anesthesia application. |
