• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to find out experiences of dental hygienists working on dental care sites, to prevent potential malpractice accidents and disputes, and to examine why it is necessary to provide corresponding education or training courses. As a result, this study came to the following conclusions: 1. It was found that 32.5% had ever experienced in malpractice suits or disputes, and 55.0% of such experienced group had ever experienced in malpractice suits or disputes concerned with dental hygienists. 2. According to inquiry on whether dental hygienists have certain liability for malpractice disputes, it was found that 66.3% respondents ascribed the medical liability to dental hygienists. And according to inquiry for those respondents on liability ratio, it was found that 57.1% of them thought 11%~30% as appropriate liability ratio. 3. According to survey on extent of doubts about potential malpractice accidents and disputes in future, it was found that 72.4% respondents sometimes had doubts about them. 4. It was found that 64.2% respondents thought it necessary and urgent to provide education related to prevention and countermeasures for malpractice disputes.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.9-33
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• 2007

In the field of dentistry, there existed relatively few emergency patients or patients who need intensive care and thus had low medical dispute rates. However, these days, there is a general tendency of increased medical disputes. Although many medical disputes are caused by medical accidents of the dentists, because dental assistants are also lawfully involved in practicing dentistry, there is a possibility of medical disputes or medical accidents caused by dental assistants. Therefore, the role of the dental assistants cannot be ignored. This study consists of a survey given to dental hygienists currently working in general hospitals, dental hospitals and private dental clinics. Following is the results of the analysis of 275 respondents' backgrounds, medical disputes rates including patients' complaints, their understanding of medical regulations and their general understanding of overall dental practice and medical disputes. 1. 251 of 274(91.6%) respondents doubted the risk of medical accident and dispute. 2. 81(29.5%) dental hygienist experienced complaint from patients. They have been working in the private dental clinic, the rate of this experience was high. 3. 349 case of 1805(19.3%) the complaints by patients, highest percentage among its category, were those regarding dental fees and poor service. 4. 129 case of 1805(7.1%) patients' complaints, highest percentage among it's subcategory, were those regarding the absence of explanations of precautions or request of agreements before dental treatment. 5. 252 of 267 (94.4%) dental hygienists chart after a scaling treatment. However, only 55(20.7%) dental hygienists chart the fact of explaining the precautions. 6. 6(2.2%) dental hygienists do not inspect patients' medical history, if patients don't mention it. 7. 104 of 274(38.0%) dental hygienists responded to be capable of administering first aid treatment. 8. 115(41.8%) dental hygienists have a first aid kit and equipment. 9. In case of medical dispute, 268(97.8%) dental hygienists respond that, charting plays a big role in resolving the dispute. 10. In case of medical dispute, 272(93.3%) dental hygienists respond that, explanation and agreement before treatment have an important role in settlement of dispute 11. Only 160(58.4%) dental hygienists responded correct answer that the duration of keeping medical records is 10 years. 12. 124(45.3%) respondents thought that it is legal for a dental hygienist to take a panoramic dental X-ray, 71(25.9%) respondents thought that it is legal practice cervical resin treatment by dental hygienist, and 37(13.5%) respondents thought that it is legal extract primary teeth by dental hygienist. 13. 24(18.76%) respondents thought that it doesn't matter to tell patient's state to others 14. 272(99.27%) responded that receiving education for the prevention of medical disputes was needed and of them, 61.0% thought it was urgent. 15. 186(64.2%) has never had classes regarding the prevention of medical disputes while in school and 212(77.4%) has not had the same type of classes after graduating from school. 16. 256(93.4%) responded that there will be even more of an increased number of medical disputes. Among them, 83.3% of respondents though that due to the increased opportunity of acquiring information through the internet and mass media. The study shows that 29.5 percentage of dental hygienists have experienced the medical disputes and complaints and they are lack of recognition of medical regulations and dental hygienist's official duty. So, there is a big potential of the percentage to increase. Therefore, the correct understanding of explaining precautions and requesting agreement before dental treatments and performing them are mandatory. Moreover, classes regarding the prevention and counterplans of medical disputes need to be widely offered.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.361-368
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• 2015

The study was conducted to provide data for the development of effective medical conflict prevention programs for dental hygiene by analyzing the dental experience conflicts. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted targeting dental hygienists who were performing dental assistance at university hospital, dental hospital and dental clinic in Busan and Gyeongnam regions from April 1 to 30, 2014. Collected questionnaires of 212 dental hygienists were then analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 20.0 program. A total of 59.4% had experienced complaints, discontents and medical disputes and 24% of these had experienced a legal trouble developed from such and 95.3% were anxious and doubtful about a possible future medical dispute to some degree. Patient complaints, complaints of non-medical issues raised by 24.3% was the most common, notices, maps and descriptions in relation to the issues raised by 14.4%, is related to the impression issue was raised in the order of 13.5%. Occurrence of disputes did not show a significant difference by place of work, however, a possibility of development of dispute into a legal proceeding showed a significant difference depending on service career and it was investigated that the experienced group feels more pressures with regard to a medical dispute according to their experience of such. All respondents said that education on a prevention and countermeasures of medical disputes is necessary. Understanding of dental hygienists on medical related laws regarding the scope of duty is required to be enhanced and, in order to do so, opportunities to receive an education with regard to a prevention and countermeasures of medical disputes are to be expanded.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.29 no.1 s.72
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• pp.1-22
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• 1999

As people are more concerned about their health and medical care, there have been an increasing number of medical disputes due to increased medical demand. In order to prevent and provide solution to currently surging medical accidents and disputes related to orthodontic treatment, in July 1998, the Korean Association Of Orthdontists surveyed 2,200 members of Korean Association of orthodontists on 30 items to recognize the pattern of medical accidents and prevent them. The survey was about accident-related items including personal profiles of members and patients who have undergone medical accidents or disputes, the cause and solution to the accidents, cautions related to members orthodontic treatment, and medical recording and archival. Based on the survey result, we analyzed characteristics of medical accidents and disputes in orthodontic area. It is more important to predict and prevent possible medical accidents or disputes based on current situation than to solve them after disputes occur. For this, we should not be negligent in raising treatment proficiency level based on patient-doctor trust and in obtaining new medical information. We should also provide medical environment where Patients themselves can decide whether to get treatment after they are offered detailed explanation on diagnosis, treatment procedure, complication, and possible hazard. We should take caution when treating patients and pay attention to charting and maintenance, which is the most fundamental, as well. Also at the Korean Association of orthodontists level, it is desired to provide education program on prevention and solution to medical accidents and disputes, and actions and organizations that can help when accidents and disputes occur.