Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the self-efficacy of dental hygiene students and their satisfaction with clinical practice to provide information for developing programs aimed at instilling self-efficacy and boosting satisfaction with clinical practice. Methods: A self-reported survey was conducted with dental hygiene students in the metropolitan area. Of those surveys distributed, 243 questionnaires were analyzed. Results: The results of this study are as follows: 1. Regarding self-efficacy, the subjects had a mean result of 2.96(out of five points), and 3.09 points in satisfaction with clinical practice. 2. As for the subfactors of self-efficacy, the students who got higher grades, whose awareness of dental hygienists was better and whose awareness of dental hygienists after on-site clinical practice was better scored higher in terms of confidence and self-regulation. In task difficulty preference, the students who were more satisfied with majoring in dental hygiene and whose awareness of dental hygienists was better scored higher. In terms of motivation for choosing the dental hygiene department, the students scored higher when the department was their preferred option. 3. In satisfaction with clinical practice, the students who were aware of dental hygienists at the time of college entrance was better. Those whose awareness of dental hygienists after experiencing clinical practice was better and who were more satisfied with majoring in dental hygiene expressed more satisfaction with clinical practice. 4. Satisfaction with clinical practice was higher when self-efficacy was better. Conclusions: Based on the above results, it is thought that developing programs that can enhance self-efficacy and include on-site clinical practice would be beneficial as higher self-efficacy levels were related to higher clinical practice satisfaction.
