The fourth program learning outcome adopted from the national competencies for an entry-to-practice dental hygienist is advocacy, highlighted below.
According to the a�?Entry-To-Practice Competencies and Standards for Canadian Dental Hygienists January 2010a��, a�?Advocacya��speaking, writing or acting in favour of a particular cause, policy, individual or group of people. The focus is often aimed at reducing inequities in health status or access to health services.a�?
As a result, some examples of abilities that dental hygiene students are expected to demonstrate as advocates are as follows:
- Identify how decisions about water fluoridation are made within your community. Conduct a needs assessment in a community womena��s center.
- Review reports on the Health Canada website to identify groups who have been identified as priority groups in government programming. Conduct a literature search of Canadian data related to the oral health of children.
- Speak with clients who are new immigrants and ask them about the barriers their members face in accessing care. Interview single mothers to identify the challenges they face in accessing oral care for their children.
As the other competencies, advocacy has many different forms.A� What does advocacy mean to you?
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada: Release 1.0. Ottawa: PHAC, 2007. Available on line at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/core_competencies and www.aspc-phac.gc.ca/competences_essentielles.