My First Journal Publication

Following my graduation, I published a literature review in the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene, which explored the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in the healthcare system (see link below). This was an extension of an assignment that I completed in the fourth year of my degree. My professor informed me that this topic had never been previously covered in a dental hygiene journal, so with his support we submitted it for publication. My goals for this paper were to help other professionals understand the barriers to care faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in order to minimize negative experiences and to increase familiarity with language that is unique to this community to promote positive practice environments. This was a great opportunity for me to experience the research aspect of dental hygiene and learn more about the rigorousness of the publication process. From this experience, I have improved in my ability to critique research for things like bias, methodology, referencing, etc., and appreciate the value of peer-review. This will be translated into my practice when I need to critique new studies and decide what should or should not inform my practice. I also feel that this experience has elevated my ability to articulate myself through writing, which can be applied directly to my practice during daily documentation.

Please visit this link to read the full article: https://files.cdha.ca/profession/journal/2259.pdf

In February 2019, we also received a "Letter to the Editor" and published a response which is available to read here: https://files.cdha.ca/profession/journal/2668.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0zHHhQFRXnDbicwV3hSm6sJcIrVmgqhsczV-WDRUkXlkYSGAnBp3povCg

#research #communication #advocacy