Community Health Research, Scales, Incidence and Prevalence

Nominal Scales

-male/female

-republican/democrat

-yes/no

-eye color

-race and ethnicity

-region

Ordinal Scales

-ranks items in order (high to low, low to high)

-no mathematical relationship

-no indication of how much higher or lower one item is in relation to another

-pain scale 1-10

-strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, strongly agree

Interval Scales

-equal intervals between values

-no true 0 point that indicates the absence (0-5 or 6-10)

Ratio Scales

-intervals between values are consistent and meaningful

-true 0 point=complete absence of the attribute being measured

-height

-weight

-blood pressure

-time

Two major categories of research

-Fundamental Research(pure):Lab

-Applied Research:Dentistry

Fundamental Research

formal and systematic

Applied Research

adapts theories developed through fundamental research

Exploratory Research

-area with little or no scientific body of knowledge

-flexibility and minimal control

-reviewing past records

Historical Research Approach

describes the past systematically and objectively

Epidemiological Research Approach

-measurement of dental disease-> decay and perio

-identification of oral health care

-establishment of baseline information

-development and evaluation of various disease control agents

Descriptive Research Approach

-description

-documentation

-analysis

-interpretation

-attitudes, case studies, surveys, development studies, document analysis, trend studies, correlational studies

Descriptive Research

-case studies

-oral health surveys

-correlational

-developmental study

-document

-trend

Case Study

intensive investigation of a person, family or group, or entire community

*twins

*3rd graders in NE

Oral Health Surveys

-interviews

-questionnaires

-direct observation

Developmental Study

-identify change, learning or development

-evaluate results of a program

-study progression of chronic disease

-Longitudinal: same group over a long period of time

-Cross-sectional study: various of groups (ex. age, sex, dem or rep.)

Document Study

-content

-analysis

-both descriptive and historical

Trend Study

-historical and descriptive

-past recorded data or events and related present conditions

Correlational Study

-Descriptive: utilized to identify consistent relationships

-cause and effect relationship between variables

*if students eat better do they preform better in the classroom

Experimental Research Approach

-experimental group and control group

-most exacting, convincing and effective method for testing relationship

*endoscope for calc detection versus no endoscope for calc detection

Quasi-Experimental Group

designs that attempt to approximate the standards of experimentation

Ex Post Facto Research Approach

-reverse approach to experimentation

-observation, measurement, analysis, and interpretation or variables

Qualitative Research

inquires deeply into specific experiences (interviews)

Quantitive Research

numerical data

A study looks at a group of women over the age of 65 for potential risk factors for osteoporosis.

ex post facto research

A study reports the time factor when caps were no longer worn in dental hygiene programs

trend study

A study compares the removal of extrinsic stain with powered toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes

correlation

A study compares the dental practice act of Texas and California

document study

A study looks at the gingival status of Colorado migrant children

epidemiological

The University of Nebraska does a 10-year study of periodontal disease comparing root planning and scaling versus periodontal surgery on a group of 50 patients

longitudinal

Two communities in rural Nebraska are used for a study. One community receives fluoridation and the other community does not.

experimental research approach

A study for classroom learning in the dental hygiene program looks at using cases for testing purposes with pre and post tests.

document study/descriptive study

A study looks at the history of licensure of dental hygienists

historical research approach

A study looks at dental hygienists who have had previous dental assisting experience

correlation study

A microbiologist identified the AIDS virus

fundamental research

A study looks at studying twins with peg laterals

case study/ex post facto

A dental hygienist studies patient anxiety in dental offices

Quasi-experimental group

A study uses two groups: experimental and control to look at scaling and root planning VS periodontal surgery

experimental research approach

The American Dental Hygienists' Association studies the trend for the number of male dental hygienists

trend study

A case study looks at thumb sucking for 5 year olds

case study

The American Dental Association contacts a study on dental health pamphlets for diabetes

document study

Development of dental hygiene education from the 1900- to present

historical research

History of fluoride and dental decay from the 1950's in Superior, Nebraska

historical research

Ten year study of development of periodontal disease in Hispanic children

longitudinal

Correlation between physical exercise and clinical competency of dental hygiene students

correlation study

Study of oral cancer and absence of oral cancer in alcoholics

ex post facto research

Incidence

number of new cases

Prevalence

new and old cases