Assessing Nurse Practitioners' Knowledge and Clinical Practice with Regard to the Oral-Systemic Link
Degree Name
MSAH (Master of Science in Allied Health)
Program
Allied Health
Date of Award
12-2020
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Deborah Dotson
Committee Members
Randy Byington, Ester Verhovsek Hughes
Abstract
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) comprise a significant portion of the U.S. primary care workforce and play an essential role in patients' health awareness, prevention strategies, disease management, and in providing appropriate provider referrals. Nurse Practitioners receive education on the oral-systemic connection, yet there have been limited studies on the clinical practice of NPs assessing the oral cavity to evaluate the condition of the teeth and the oral tissues. The purpose of this study was to explore the nurse practitioners’ knowledge and practice habits of assessing the oral cavity for diseases or abnormalities in the mouth that can, in turn, affect overall health. A total of 66 NPs were included in the study, primarily female (91%) with master’s degrees (77%). While knowledge and education were not significantly associated, this research found significant associations between confidence and assessments, less than one-third (30.3%) were confident in their knowledge and ability to evaluate oral abnormalities.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Haynes, Angela, "Assessing Nurse Practitioners' Knowledge and Clinical Practice with Regard to the Oral-Systemic Link" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3848. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3848
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Dental Hygiene Commons, Dental Public Health and Education Commons, Family Practice Nursing Commons, Oral Biology and Oral Pathology Commons, Periodontics and Periodontology Commons, Public Health and Community Nursing Commons