Emotional intelligence (EI) has been increasingly associated with the success of health care professionals, including dental professionals. Mental health, physical health, and life satisfaction all have been linked to having a high EI. The aim of this study was to determine any associations between EI scores and academic and clinical performance in a cohort of undergraduate dental hygiene students. All 63 first- and second-year dental hygiene students enrolled at The Ohio State University in the spring term 2017 were invited to participate in this quantitative cross-sectional study. The survey consisted of demographic questions and 30 emotional quotient self-assessment checklist questions divided into six EI subsets. The EI subset scores were then correlated with students' academic and clinical grades. A total of 45 students completed the questionnaire, for a response rate of 71.4%. Most of the participants scored between 16 and 19 for each EI domain, meaning they had a moderate EI level. A significant regression equation of EI subset scores and clinical GPA was found (F(3,41)=7.474, p<0.001), with an R of 0.354. Simple linear regression was calculated to predict clinical performance based on EI, and a significant regression equation was found (F(3,41)=6.727, p<0.001), with an R of 0.330. The EI subsets of self-control, motivation, and self-confidence were found to be predictors of overall academic performance. The EI subsets of social competence, empathy, and motivation were found to be predictors of clinical performance. These results suggest that more attention to the development of emotional intelligence may lead to improved academic and clinical performance among undergraduate dental hygiene students.

Due to postural demands, dental professionals are at high risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Dental clinicians' lack of ergonomic awareness may impede the clinical application of recommendations to improve their posture. The aim of this study was to determine whether feedback involving photography and self-assessment would improve dental hygiene students' ergonomic scores and accuracy of their ergonomic self-assessments. The study involved a randomized control design and used a convenience sample of all 32 junior-year dental hygiene students enrolled in the autumn 2016 term in The Ohio State University baccalaureate dental hygiene program. Sixteen students were randomly assigned to each of two groups (control and training). At weeks one and four, all participants were photographed and completed ergonomic self-evaluations using the Modified-Dental Operator Posture Assessment Instrument (M-DOPAI). During weeks two and three, participants in the training group were photographed again and used those photographs to complete ergonomic self-assessments. All participants' pre-training and post-training photographs were given ergonomic scores by three raters. Students' self-assessments in the control group and faculty evaluations of the training group showed significant improvement in scores over time (F(1,60)=4.25, p<0.05). In addition, the accuracy of self-assessment significantly improved for students in the training group (F(1,30)=8.29, p<0.01). In this study, dental hygiene students' self-assessments using photographs resulted in improvements in their ergonomic scores and increased accuracy of their ergonomic self-assessments. Any improvement in ergonomic score or awareness can help reduce the risks for WMSDs, especially among dental clinicians.

ObjectiveEmotional intelligence (EI) is the recognition and management of emotions within oneself and others. Limited evidence exists that determine whether EI is related to stress and burnout.PurposeThe purpose of this project was to determine whether relationships exist between EI, stress, and burnout levels among undergraduate dental hygiene students.MethodsThis study used a quantitative cross‐sectional research design. The study instrument consisted of 3 parts: (1) The Emotional Quotient Self‐Assessment Checklist consisted of 30‐questions in 6 domains and measured EI; (2) The Modified Dental Environment Stress Questionnaire consisted of 39 questions in 5 domains and measured stress; and (3) The Maslach Burnout Inventory‐Health Services Survey consisted of 22 questions in 3 domains and measured burnout.ResultsThe responses from 57 participants were used (response rate = 93.3%). A moderate negative correlation was found between self‐control and personal stress and a moderate negative correlation was found between empathy and emotional evaluation. Moderate positive correlations were found between self‐awareness, empathy, motivation, self‐competence, self‐confidence, and total EI scores and personal accomplishment. Multiple linear regression analysis found self‐control was a significant predictor of personal stress (R2 = .023, P = .023); empathy and self‐competence were significant predictors of clinical stress (R2 = .085, P = .034); empathy and self‐awareness were significant predictors of emotional exhaustion (R2 = .071, P = 0.006); and empathy was a predictor of personal accomplishment (R2 = .150, P = 0.002).ConclusionSubcomponents of EI were found to be significant predictors of stress and burnout levels. Future research is needed to improve EI levels to tolerate stress and minimize burnout levels.

Dental and dental hygiene faculty members often do not provide consistent instruction in the clinical environment, especially in tasks requiring clinical judgment. From previous efforts to calibrate faculty members in calculus detection using typodonts, researchers have suggested using human subjects and emerging technology to improve consistency in clinical instruction. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if a dental endoscopy-assisted training program would improve intra-and interrater reliability of dental hygiene faculty members in calculus detection. Training included an ODU 11/12 explorer, typodonts, and dental endoscopy. A convenience sample of six participants was recruited from the dental hygiene faculty at a California community college, and a two-group randomized experimental design was utilized. Intra-and interrater reliability was measured before and after calibration training. Pretest and posttest Kappa averages of all participants were compared using repeated measures (split-plot) ANOVA to determine the effectiveness of the calibration training on intra-and interrater reliability. The results showed that both kinds of reliability signiicantly improved for all participants and the training group improved signiicantly in interrater reliability from pretest to posttest. Calibration training was beneicial to these dental hygiene faculty members, especially those beginning with less than full agreement. This study suggests that calculus detection calibration training utilizing dental endoscopy can effectively improve interrater reliability of dental and dental hygiene clinical educators. Future studies should include human subjects, involve more participants at multiple locations, and determine whether improved rater reliability can be sustained over time.

Emotional intelligence (EI) involves the awareness and management of personal and others' emotions. Although EI has been found to be positively associated with the academic performance of dental students, limited evidence exists regarding methods to improve the EI among dental students. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the inclusion of EI training in a communication and ethics course would improve EI levels among dental students. Methods: Upon institutional review board exemption, this study used a pre-test/posttest research design. Second-year dental students, enrolled in a Communication and Ethics in Dentistry course, were invited to participate. Participants completed a survey of demographic questions and a 30-item Emotional Quotient Self-Assessment Checklist at the beginning and end of the course. Participants received reports of their pre-test and post-test EI scores. Results: Of the 120 enrolled, 97.5% (n = 117) completed the pre-test survey and 91.7% (n = 110) completed the post-test survey. Independent samples t-tests revealed significant improvements in EI scores from pre-test (M = 111.9, SD = 9.8) to post-test (M = 118.8, SD = 11.2) (P < 0.001). About 75% of participants agreed that knowing their EI scores was helpful in general, knowing their EI scores was helpful in the classroom setting, and the course content and course activities helped the improvement of EI scores. Nearly 90% of participants agreed that knowing their EI scores would be helpful in the clinical setting. Conclusion: Future research should evaluate the longitudinal effects and impact of the EI training to determine how EI should be addressed in the overall dental curriculum.