The impact of quality assurance programming: a comparison of two canadian dental hygienist programs.

Quality assurance (QA) and continuing competence (CC) programs aim to ensure acceptable levels of health care provider competence, but it is unknown which program methods most successfully achieve this goal. The objectives of the study reported in this article were to compare two distinct QA/CC programs of Canadian dental hygienists and assess the impact of these two programs on practice behavior change, a proxy measure for quality. British Columbia (BC) and Ontario (ON) were compared because the former mandates continuing education (CE) time requirements. A two-group comparison survey design using a self-administered questionnaire was implemented in randomly selected samples from two jurisdictions. No statistical differences were found in total activity, change opportunities, or change implementation, but ON study subjects participated in significantly more activities that yielded change opportunities and more activities that generated appropriate change implementation, meaning positive and correct approaches to providing care, than BC dental hygienists. Both groups reported implementing change to a similarly high degree. The findings suggest that ON dental hygienists participated in more learning activities that had relevancy to their practice and learning needs than did BC subjects. The findings indicate that the QA program in ON may allow for greater efficiency in professional learning.