An assessment of a service-learning placement programme in residential aged care facilities for final year dental hygiene

Aim: To record student feedback on a placement programme where students offered oral health assessments and oral hygiene advice to older people living in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) on the NSW Central Coast, Australia. Methodology: Final year Bachelor of Oral Health students from the University of Newcastle were asked to complete pre and post placement questionnaires relating to knowledge, willingness and ability to assess oral health needs and deliver oral health advice to RACF residents and staff. Results: Sixty seven students attended the placement programme, 50 (77%) completed the pre- and post- placement questionnaires. Mean Likert scores showed that students reported knowledge to assess the oral health needs of residents with Alzheimer’s significantly improved post placement (P<0.0001) as did their knowledge of how to produce oral hygiene educational material for RACF staff (P<0.0001). An improvement in ability to assess the oral health needs of residents with dementia was significant (P<0.01) and students reported feeling less nervous following the placement (P