Development & Usability of an Online Resource for Prospective Dental Hygiene Practitioners

Dental hygienists are licensed professionals that work closely with the dentist and staff to meet the oral health needs of an individual. Like graduates from other professions, new dental hygiene (DH) graduates often encounter a transitional gap from school to the work environment. Utilizing both minimalist and user-centered design approaches, a website was developed to assist DH students transition smoothly to become licensed professionals. To evaluate the website’s utility, a usability research study was conducted to eight DH students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa: School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene (UHM: SONDH). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the functionality and value of the website Dental Hygiene: Student to Professional Transition. Rapid prototyping, in conjunction with Heuristic Evaluation and “Do-it-yourself” usability testing, was implemented throughout the study. In the study, five areas of inquiries (user navigation efficacy, task performance efficiency, and website design, content and performance satisfaction) were investigated. Data analysis revealed predominantly favorable response from the study participants; however, close data examination revealed inadequacy in the informational content provided within the website.