Syllabus

DH450 : Syllabus : Syllabus

Syllabus - Oral Health: Research and Planning

Northern Arizona University
Department of Dental Hygiene
DH 450 Oral Health: Research and Program Planning
3 credit hours
Instructors: Tricia Moore and Ellen Grabarek
BLDG 66, Room 206 (Tricia) 210 (Ellen) Office hours by appointment
Tricia.Moore@nau.edu or Ellen.Grabarek@nau.edu

Course Description:
Introduction of skills and tools that will enable the oral health professional to effectively assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions that will impact individual and community oral health.

There are two parallel themes throughout the course: 1) research and 2) community health.
The student is expected to read and learn about both research and public health principles.
As part of this course, the student writes a proposal for either a research project or a community health project.
In a follow-up course (DH 495 Oral Health Outcomes), the student actually implements and evaluates the results of the project.

Objectives:

Read, critically analyze and discuss practical applications of scientific literature.

Identify resources and obtain information needed to plan research and community health projects.

Apply the logic of scientific inquiry including hypothesis development and testing.

Implement methods common in oral health research and community project planning.

Assess oral health status and needs.

Describe national and state oral health objectives, policy and priorities.

Collaborate sensitively and effectively to identify a variety of perspectives.

Apply theory to research and oral health promotion projects and activities.

Demonstrate strategies for making change.

Demonstrate methods useful in collecting, organizing, analyzing and interpreting data.

Demonstrate principles of ethical behavior and professional conduct.

Course Structure and Approach:
This course will consist of a combination of lecture, discussion and seminar. Students should come to class prepared to contribute to and/or lead discussion. Study suggestions include: Attend all classes, read all assignments, underline important ideas, take notes from the reading and the lecture/discussions, write summaries in your own words, review your notes, try to explain the ideas to someone else, discuss the ideas with a group, seek help and clarification when needed.

Activities to be assessed for attainment of goals and objectives:
· Student will obtain and critically evaluate relevant literature and other information related to their topic and project or intervention.
· Students will design an intervention or research project related to individual or community oral health.

Required Texts:
Gluck and Morganstein, Jong's Community Dental Health ISBN 0-8151-3488-6. Mosby 1998
Bailey, Research for the Health Professional, A Practical Guide ISBN 0-8036-0151-4 Davis 1997

Reading/Resources:
· Oral Research Methods Reserve Reading collection by Tricia Moore
· Community Oral Health Research Reading collection by Ellen Grabarek
· Additional required reading will be determined by project

Evaluation

Total possible points for the class is 396. For point breakdown, see the OVERVIEW PAGE

Tests / assignments

Project proposal / plan

Self and peer evaluations are utilized in addition to faculty evaluation when the project involves working in a group.
Students are evaluated on their use of resources and information gathering, effectiveness of collaboration, quality of assessment, use of theory and scientific inquiry, quality and appropriateness of intervention planned, professionalism, and the quality of written communication including clarity, organization, grammar and spelling.

Comprehensive Final Exam

Grading Scale
· 90-100% A
· 80-89% B
· 73-79% C
· 65-72% D
· <65% F

Course Policies
· Class attendance is considered an essential and integral part of the learning process. Unexcused absences may reduce the final grade.
· Each student is accountable for all work missed because of absence or tardiness.
· No make-up quizzes or exams will be offered except by special permission from the instructor PRIOR to the scheduled date.
· Cheating means intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise.
Cheating on any exam or assignment will result in a failing grade; no points being awarded for that exam or assignment.

Once you have finished you should:

Go on to The Introduction
or
Go back to Oral Health: Research and Planning

E-mail Tricia Moore at Tricia.Moore@nau.edu or call (520) 523-4012
or E-mail Ellen Grabarel at Ellen.Grabarek@nau.edu

Tests / assignments
Project proposal / plan	Self and peer evaluations are utilized in addition to faculty evaluation when the project involves working in a group. Students are evaluated on their use of resources and information gathering, effectiveness of collaboration, quality of assessment, use of theory and scientific inquiry, quality and appropriateness of intervention planned, professionalism, and the quality of written communication including clarity, organization, grammar and spelling.
Comprehensive Final Exam