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Introduction: Oral Health Therapists (OHTs) are a growing workforce globally, with skills in oral health prevention, treatment planning and management of disease. These professionals receive their training through a three‐year undergraduate program which leads to the Bachelor of Oral Health degree in Australia and New Zealand. The aim of this study was to describe the learning environment for OHT students in Australia and New Zealand. OHT students were requested to complete the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) to indicate their perceptions of the environment of their educational program. Materials and Methods: Bachelor of Oral Health students from 10 universities in Australia and New Zealand were invited to participate in the survey. The analysis of the students' experiences focused on five domains of educational environment: learning, teaching, academic self‐perception, atmosphere and social self‐perception. Total DREEM scores were compared to previously published literature for other health professions students. Results: A total of 336 OHT students completed the study, which represented 30% of all OHT students enrolled in the 10 participating universities. Using the DREEM, participants perception of the environment was more positive than negative with an average DREEM total score of 141 (70.5%) out of a maximum score of 200. The model demonstrates university region to be a major predictor in the overall DREEM score, with regional universities scoring higher than urban universities (p =.012). Conclusions: The DREEM was used to describe OHT students perceptions of the learning environment in Australia and New Zealand. This study found that the university region is a significant predictor of positive experiences for OHT students. By identifying the strengths and weaknesses of contemporary Oral Health programs, this study offers insights into future improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the impact of a combined science outreach, oral health education and tooth brushing initiative introduced into a New Zealand Māori immersion primary school. Participants completed questionnaires on dental anxiety, oral health practices and dental knowledge before and after the intervention. Pre- and post-intervention responses were compared to determine if knowledge and outcomes had improved. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six students 18 -months later to determine long term retention of information and subsequent oral health practices. Improvements in good oral hygiene habits and diet were observed in several areas. Interview participants comments showed that although students may be aware of recommended oral health practices, they will not necessarily implement them. A decline in the number of sugary drinks consumed daily was observed, alongside an increase in participants' understanding of the effect of fluoride on teeth. Not all dental terminology and scientific knowledge was retained long term because of this initiative; however, improvements were observed when reinforcement of messages was delivered regularly throughout the duration of the study. Scientific outreach and dental initiatives need to be ongoing to ensure long term retention of information provided, and to encourage regular oral health practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Enamel defects occur during tooth formation. Identifying variances in presentation and prevalence between and within countries can help researchers identify potential causes requiring further investigation. Children with an early mixed dentition are at an increased risk of dental caries and reliant on others to control their diet and provide oral hygiene assistance. Breastfeeding is recommended by the WHO for the first six months of life and there has been some controversy around breastfeeding in relation to dental caries risk. This study investigated dental enamel defects and dental caries in relation to tooth eruption, diet, and oral hygiene, in a cohort of 6-year-old South Island, New Zealand children who were breastfed as infants. Methods: 120 children were followed prospectively since birth as part of a breastfeeding study. Participants completed a dental questionnaire and were dentally examined for caries and developmental defects of enamel at age 6 years. Results: 82 participants were included in this study. The mean age was 6.6 years, 52% were male, and 80% resided in areas of low or medium deprivation. All participants had been breastfed for at least 5 months, with 9% being breastfed beyond 2 years. Two thirds of participants had at least one tooth affected by an enamel defect, with a mean of 6.12 (SD 4.34) affected teeth/ affected participants, while half had experienced dental caries. No statistically significant differences were found with breastfeeding duration and dental caries, however there was a trend towards increased dental caries experience and severity with prolonged breast feeding beyond 24 months. Conclusions: The prevalence of enamel defects and dental caries among participants was high relative to national and international data. Breast feeding for <24 months was not associated with dental caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dental therapists, hygienists and oral health therapists constitute up to a third of the dental workforce in Australia and New Zealand. Personality is often explored in health professions to provide insights into traits that are conducive to workforce retention and to assist in planning and training. This study aimed to investigate the current demographic and personality characteristics of oral health students in Australia and New Zealand. Materials and methods: Students in years one to three of all eight undergraduate Bachelor of Oral Health programs in Australia and New Zealand were invited to complete an online survey. The survey measured activities prior to entering into oral health, career intentions and included a personality questionnaire, the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Results: Three quarters of participants (n = 336; 30% response rate; females = 90%) were single, from an urban area and 20-29 years of age. Oral health students overall portrayed high trait levels of Persistence and Cooperativeness. Cluster analysis of TCI traits identified three groups. Groups of students with high Persistence and Cooperativeness tended to be older, were working in non-dental and dental careers prior to their degree and were interested in working in regional areas after graduation. Conclusions: Students with high levels of persistence and cooperativeness were interested in working in regional areas after graduation, highlighting the importance of industriousness and persistence in overcoming barriers to practicing in regional areas. Further research is warranted to investigate barriers and enablers in recruitment and retention of males in a primarily female dominated profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When making decisions on infrastructure operation and replacement, utilities must take into account the risk of an asset failing and starting a fire or exploding. However, the challenge in determining the likelihood of such a failure is that since their rate is so low, there is often little statistical information available on which to analyze. A question posed by the Australian and New Zealand utilities is whether transformer fires and explosions become more likely with age. Since the power transformer fleets of these two countries are comparable, with a large number entering the later years of their useful lives, a relationship between nameplate age and fire and explosion likelihood will have implications on replacement policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cost-utility analysis using the quality-adjusted life years ( QALY) as an outcome measure to inform healthcare resource allocation is becoming more common. The Child Health Utility 9D ( CHU9D) enables the calculation of utility values in children. Children were involved throughout its development to ensure it is child centred. Aim To determine whether the CHU9D is responsive to the changing components of the dmfs+ DMFS index score in children receiving dental care over a 1-year period. Design The study sample comprised children aged 6 to 9 years old who were enrolled in a split-mouth, placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial. All children had a comprehensive clinical examination including radiographs and health-related quality of life ( HRQoL) was measured using the CHU9D at baseline and 1 year. Descriptive statistics was followed by bivariate analyses before effect sizes were calculated. A negative binomial model was fitted to assess whether the utility score predicted the components of decayed and filled teeth (combined primary and permanent teeth). Results Eighty (92%) children completed the CHU9D at baseline and follow-up. They presented with a mean baseline d3mfs+D3 MFS of 6.7 ( SD = 7.1), which rose to 7.3 ( SD = 7.0) at follow-up. The mean CHU9D score improved from 0.88 to 0.90 from baseline to follow-up. No statistically significant relationships were found between caries status and the CHU9D score. Conclusion The CHU9D was found to be unresponsive to the changing components of dental caries experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Registered nurses and nurse educators are often unaware of how nursing students experience the nursing profession. In the current practice climate of increased workloads, reduced funding, and higher patient acuity, nurse educators are likely to hear from colleagues how unprepared newly qualified nurses are for the needs of practice. It is difficult for many nursing students to see value in their practice because they become preoccupied with their perceived lack of knowledge and technical skills. Nurses and nurse educators should be aware of how this brands new graduates and informs their sense of developing professional identity. Despite their feelings of deficit in terms of skills and knowledge, it is clear that many nursing students are, in fact, effectively negotiating relational ethics. This article presents a collaborative account of the important relational work being undertaken by one group of nursing students in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]