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Purpose: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare providers includes physical, psychological, financial, and childcare issues. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of dental hygienists returning to clinical practice after the March 2020 closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological research design was used with virtual focus groups. Clinical dental hygienists who had worked a minimum of 3 days a week prior to dental practice closures in March 2020 and had returned to work in May 2020 were invited to participate through purposive sampling on dental hygiene social media sites. Demographic data was collected prior to a one-hour focus group session. Two investigators independently analyzed and coded the data using a qualitative data analysis software program. The themes identified were used to generate a description of the major findings. Results: Data saturation was achieved with (n=35) participants for a total of 13 focus groups. Most participants were female (89%), and the average age was 40 years. The following major themes were identified: physical issues; emotional; adherence to infection control protocols; fear of contracting/transmitting COVID-19; financial stress; our career was marginalized; and let's get back and make money. Conclusion: Dental hygienists experienced similar physical and mental health stressors as other health care professionals upon returning to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, however dental hygienists also reported feeling marginalized and undervalued. Results from this study suggest that dental hygienists need both personal and workplace support to manage the issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in order to retain them in the workforce. Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, dental hygienists, dental hygiene workforce, anxiety, personal protective equipment, career satisfaction, Introduction Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes. (1) While most people [...]

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive study was to assess data pertinent to the Permit L local anesthesia license among practicing dental hygienists in Massachusetts, providing an overview of characteristics, practice behaviors, barriers for obtaining the permit and self-perceived competency. Methods: A convenience sample of dental hygienists (n=6,167) identified through a publically available data base were invited to participate in a web-based survey. The survey consisted of demographic and Permit L specific questions. Items regarding opinions were rated using a 5-point Likert scale while frequencies and percentiles were used to evaluate demographics and practice-based information. Spearman's Rank correlation was performed to determine association between variables. Results: A 10% (n=615) response rate was attained with (n=245) non-Permit L holders and (n=370) Permit L holders. Respondents reported significant differences in demographics and opinions between non-Permit L holders and Permit L holders (p Conclusion: The results of this study provide an overview of Permit L local anesthesia administration that is generally comparable to previous studies and offers new insights into why some Massachusetts dental hygienists choose not to pursue certification. This study highlights the potential to increase the prevalence of the Permit L, address barriers to pursuing the Permit L, and further evaluate self-perceived barriers. Keywords: local anesthesia, dental hygienists, continuing education, professional delegation This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Professional Education and Development: Investigate curriculum models for training and certification of competency in specialty areas (e.g., anesthesiology, developmentally disabled, forensics, geriatrics, hospital dental hygiene, oncology, pediatrics, periodontology, and public health)., INTRODUCTION It is widely known that dental hygienists can be effectively taught expanded functions and those functions can be delivered effectively and safely. (1) During 1972 to 1974, the Forsyth [...]

With small lots becoming the rule rather than the exception, narrow and deep designs meet the demands of modern living as builders learn lessons from the past. There's no need […]

It used to be you lived at home, worked at work. Now, zero-commute is the buzzword, and builders are buying in with live/work units that provide the ultimate in flexibility. […]

Here are the 20 absolute best trade secrets from leaders in the building industry. Read them, use them, make them work for you. It's that time again. Time to shelve […]

In their 35th year, the Gold Nugget Awards showcase the best de sign and planning in the western United States and the Pacific Rim. Forget Paris, Milan, and New York […]

Second homes are more than just a status symbol for buyers who want to get away from it all. Timeless designs provide a place to play now and retire later. […]

Builders want high density. Buyers crave low maintenance. Put the two together, and you get the big. house. on-a-small-lot phenom that's changing the face of America's suburbs. Given the choice […]

The living is easy in today's new rental communities - designed to compete head-on with single-family neighborhoods. The rental market is on the upswing. Singles and couples - the best […]

Winners of the 17th annual Builder's Choice Design and Planning Awards exemplify good design, social consciousness, and market durability. The 1997 Builder's Choice winners set a national standard for excellence […]

Mild uterine contractions occurring before labor may become stronger labor contractions because of an increase in estrogen levels. Researchers used eight rhesus monkeys in late pregnancy to study the relationship between estrogen and oxytocin levels and the strength of uterine contractions. Estrogen and oxytocin levels were measured before and after labor induction, and before and after nighttime, which is when uterine contractions in the pregnant monkey normally increase. Estrogen levels increased after labor induction, and these increases preceded increases in oxytocin levels by 24 to 48 hours. Increases in oxytocin levels correlated with stronger uterine contractions. Increases in oxytocin levels precipitated by elevations of estrogen may cause preterm labor as well as term labor.

Intravenous cocaine administration appears to increase uterine contractions in pregnant baboons. Seven pregnant baboons in their last trimester had a catheter placed in the femoral artery and vein and sensors sutured into the uterine muscle. A jacket arrangement allowed free mobility. Five days after surgery various dosages of cocaine were infused. Muscle activity increased over baseline at all dosage levels, i.e., 0.3 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg), 0.5 mg/kg, and 1.0 mg/kg. The amount of activity increased as the dosage increased. This may be one mechanism for reducing uterine blood flow, a known effect of cocaine.

'As is our pathology, so is our practice ... what the pathologist thinks today, the physician does tomorrow.' --Sir William Osler (1849-1919) (1) A woman visits her gynecologist for her [...]

Like most researchers, you probably hate tissue culture work. But, if such `trivialities' as experimental quality and reproducibility are important to you, then you and your cells will need to [...]

Mount Everest climber Frank Smythe stood at 27,000 feet, near the top of the world, in 1933. Later, Smythe recounted an exceptionally odd experience. He saw 'two curious looking objects [...]

Pride of Place Madison Lane will change the way you think about production housing. Although it's not the first project to create eclectic streetscapes with different architectural styles, it provides […]

Neighborhood Nostalgia Modesto, Calif. - Rose Lane is both a dream project and nightmare for David and Bob Florsheim, brothers and co-owners of Florsheim Homes, a builder/developer in Stockton, Calif. […]

Find design inspiration in this collection of memorable details from the 1997 Builder's Choice Design and Planning Awards. Counter Intelligence A maple accessory center in the owners' bath provides cabinet […]

Purpose: To asses the value of administering a mock corroborative clinical exam to the beginner learner in reducing anxiety and increasing performance on the final corroborative clinical exam. Hypothesis: A [...]

Literature indicates that most college level interprofessional education/initiatives do not include dental professionals. In 2008, The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, in an effort to gain a position [...]

A theory has only the alternatives of being wrong or right. A model has a third possibility: It may be right but irrelevant. --Manfred Eigen (1) When molecular biology techniques [...]

A neotraditional community features an enclave of homes that strikes an emotional chord with the builder and buyers alike. Builder Michael Levy. of Lozier Homes personally relates to every style […]

There's a buzz in Vero Beach, Fla. Locals talk about this small seaside city as the state's best-kept secret. They'd just as soon keep it that way. Veto Beach is […]

A wave of commercial building crashed on the shores of the Mississippi gulf coast in the early 1990s, leaving several large projects in its wake. Now a second wave of […]

In a region overrun with red tile and stucco, the homes at Crooked Oak by John Laing Homes stand apart with design details from classic American farmhouses. The meadows, rolling […]

Architectural design continues to evolve drawing upon the past and looking toward the future. Innovate and Accommodate Ask anyone who's been in the housing industry for the past 20 years […]

When Taylor Woodrow Homes decided to introduce new designs for established and growing families at Bellacere in the planned community of San Juan Hills in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., it […]

Builder/developer Sam Coniglio of American Sterling Enterprises in Sarasota, Fla., wanted to preserve the natural beauty of Amberwynd of Sneade Island, a 36-acre community on the Florida coast between Sarasota […]

Boyne City, Mich. - As legend has it, a New York settler dreamed of a cabin on a bear-shaped lake, and pioneers headed west to find the cabin. Historians believe […]

Edwards, Colo. - A golf course and mountain views aren't enough to distinguish a resort community in the Vail Valley. But they can make quite an impression when combined with […]

Corner Office Many builders offer a study off the foyer. But Monterey Homes' Trieste model at Lincoln Place in Scottsdale, Ariz., comes with a double twist: corner glass and a […]

In 1993 the health departments in the United Kingdom issued guidance on hepatitis B,[1] requiring all healthcare workers (including medical students) who perform exposure prone procedures to be vaccinated against [...]