Have you ever considered undertaking your own action research project? It’s an intriguing concept, isn’t it? We engage in research daily, often without even realizing it.
At rdhu, we encourage our members to plan their year around topics that truly interest them. We offer complimentary webinars designed to spark curiosity and leave you eager to delve deeper into those subjects. Our online and in-person courses go further, providing in-depth exploration of these topics.
Once you have learned about a subject and begun to implement it into your practice, this is where action research truly begins. After acquiring knowledge on a topic and crafting an implementation plan, the most effective way to sustain this new program or service is by documenting both the process and the results.
Consider this: You attend a webinar introducing a new approach, such as oral probiotics, and it sparks your interest. You then enroll in a more in-depth course and do more research to build a strong foundation. From there, you decide to integrate what you’ve learned into your practice. You identify patients who could benefit, document their baseline, and track the changes after introducing oral probiotics into their care routine. Over time, you gather valuable insights, recognizing patterns and improvements. This process—observing, documenting, and analyzing—is action research in motion.
The benefits of engaging in projects like this extend beyond data collection. It fosters a sense of purpose, keeps you motivated, and enhances both patient outcomes and professional growth. Even if you never publish your findings, the experience itself can be transformative. However, should you choose to share your work, imagine the impact of seeing your research published right here in Oral Hygiene!
I recently participated in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Oral Health Promotion with O’Hehir University, where our final assignment was to submit an action research paper. It was an eye-opening and rewarding experience—one that shifted my perspective and deepened my approach to both learning and patient care.
Whether you’re in clinical practice or another professional setting, everyone can benefit from engaging in action research. It’s a journey of discovery, growth, and meaningful change.
In this special edition of Oral Hygiene, which I had the privilege of curating, I’m thrilled to share two research papers completed by my cohort. If you’re interested in discussing action research, writing, or even completing your degree, I would love to connect. Please feel free to email me at kathleen@rdhu.ca or connect with me on LinkedIn.
About the author
Kathleen is the founder and president of rdhu, a leading professional development company dedicated to transforming the dental hygiene experience. With a passion for lifelong learning, she provides innovative hands-on programs, online education, and team events that empower dental hygienists to elevate their clinical practice. Kathleen is also a strong advocate for integrating research into everyday hygiene care, inspiring clinicians to embrace continuous growth. Learn more at rdhu.ca.
