Analysis of Factors Affecting Dental Hygiene Students' Attitudes toward Patient Safety and Performing Confidence

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes and performing confidence, and factors influencing patient safety of dental hygiene students. The questionnaire contained items on the subjects' general characteristics, attitudes, and performing confidence in relation to patient safety. The self-reported questionnaire was administered to 287 dental hygiene students in Gwangju and Jeonnam, Korea from September to November 2017. We performed an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis using IBM SPSS ver. 21.0 software. As a result of differences in attitude, and performing confidence according to the general characteristics, attitude toward patient safety scored 3.48 out of 5 points, and was more positive in students from 4-year colleges, with high major satisfaction, and in students who answered that they needed patient safety education. Performing confidence for patient safety scored 3.57 out of 5 points, and was statistically significantly higher in 4-year college students, with higher major satisfaction, amongst those with experience in patient safety education, and when patient safety education was needed before clinical practice or employment. There were positive correlations between attitude and performing confidence for patient safety. As a result of analyzing the factors influencing attitude and performing confidence for patient safety, attitudes were higher with higher performing confidence and performing confidence had the highest satisfaction rate of the major and patient safety education experience. Therefore, it is necessary to provide systematic education at universities reflecting the characteristics of dental medical institutions, as well as developing various education contents and education methods.