What is Research?

What is Community Health Promotion?

Research answers questions. For example: what is the best way to care for patients? what treatments are most effective etc.

Steps in the Research
Process

1. Identify a problem or question
2. Review the literature to see what is already known about the problem
3. Formulate a hypothesis or question
4. Design the project to answer the question
5. Carry out the project
6. Analyze the data
7. Accept or reject the hypothesis
8. Formulate conclusions & recommendations
9. Disseminate the information

Hygienists conducting research will:

• Enhance the profession's ability to promote the health and well-being of the public
• Enhance research collaboration within dental hygiene and other professional communities
• Communicate research priorities to legislative and policy making bodies
• Stimulate progress toward meeting national health objectives, e.g. Health People 2010
• Translate the outcomes of basic science and applied research into theoretical frameworks and practice of dental hygiene

Health Promotion improves health of groups of individuals. It involves helping people change their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health.

Health Education is an important piece of health promotion. It includes informing and motivating persons to adopt an maintain healthy lifestyles.

Steps in the Public Health Process

1. Assessment
   Survey of the community
  Analysis of data/needs
   Review of the literature
2. Planning a program to fit community priorities
3. Financing:

  block grants, state appropriation, other

4. Implementation of the program
5. Evaluation:
   effectiveness
  efficiency
  cost effectiveness
   impact

Obtaining optimum health may require:

• working with communities, groups such as churches and clubs, formal organizations such as schools and workplaces, pressure groups and political parties and governments at all levels
• cooperation between many different sectors of society
• assessment of social support, cultural norms, and contributing factors
• a combination of many different approaches including education, policy development, organizational change, economic support, community development

Examples: Student Health Promotion Projects

1. Which type of floss removes more plaque: teflon-coated or woven floss?
2. What is the public's perception and knowledge about dental hygiene?
3. Is dry brushing as effective at plaque removal as brushing with toothpaste?
4. Can dentists detect a difference in film quality between D- and E-speed films?

1. What are the outcomes of teaching dental hygiene students to do brief interventions for tobacco cessation?
2. What are caries rates of selected populations?
3. What are the attitudes of the Flagstaff community about water fluoridation?
4. Do more children wear mouth-guards for soccer after a promotion program?
5. What are providers' perceptions of AHCCCS patients?
6. Does untreated caries effect school performance?