| This qualitative study aimed to explore the perspectives of dental hygiene students and
educators on the key characteristics that define an effective clinical dental hygiene instructor.
This study employed an exploratory online focus group design with a purposive sample of
dental hygiene educators and students from the United States (IRB-FY2025-28). Focus group
interviews were conducted via Zoom during the fall semester of 2024. The sessions lasted 45–60
minutes and were recorded and saved to an encrypted, password-protected account. Qualitative
data were analyzed using the Dedoose platform (Los Angeles, CA, USA). Twelve clinical dental
hygiene educators and 22 dental hygiene students participated in the study. The themes
identified from student responses included Responsiveness, Performance, and Empowerment,
while educator themes encompassed Alignment, Integrity, Facilitation, Enlightenment, and
Leadership. Further research is needed to develop standardized training programs and best
practices for clinical instructors.
Key Words: clinical effectiveness, qualitative research, interviews, dental hygiene students,
dental hygiene educators |