• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.207-219
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• 2019

Objectives: This study investigates the dental hygienist's main duties in clinical dental practice and examine whether dental hygienists can safely perform each duty by referring to the educational contents of dental hygiene departments and national examinations of dental hygienists. Methods: A questionnaire on the main duties of dental hygienists was administered to 477 clinical dental hygienists working at dental clinics and hospitals, general dental hospitals, and university dental hospitals in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, and Incheon. We divide the dental hygienists' clinical dental hygiene practice and clinical dental assist and analyze the legal scope of practice, university educational contents, and national examination contents. Statistical analysis was performed through frequency analysis, and multi-frequency data were analyzed using Excel 2013. Results: All 48 items (except 2 items of 29 dental hygiene practice and 21 assist practice items) surveyed were covered in the National Examination for Dental Hygienists and included in the Dental Hygiene Education Learning Objective. The multi-frequency clinical dental practice of eight items of clinical dental hygiene practice and two assist practice items were within the legal scope of the dental hygienist's role. Conclusions: Further discussions are needed to redefine the legal scope of the role of the dental hygienist.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2020

The purpose of the study is to investigate the women's college students' perceptions on work scope of dental hygienists and the inclusion of dental hygienists in the category of medical personnel. A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 180 Suwon women's college students from August 26, to September 11, 2019. The questionnaire consisted of oral health condition of the subjects, perception of both legal and illegal work scope of dental hygienist, the degree of recognition of medical personnel occupations by subject, and the reason why they thought dental hygienists are medical personnel. The collected data were analyzed based on frequency, percentage, and descriptive statistics using IBM SPSS VER 22.0. It showed significantly different perception of work scope of dental hygienists according to the major. Percent of 70 of the subjects perceived dental hygienist as a medical personnel, the opinions on the necessity were as follows: The Ministry of Health and Welfare issues a license through the national examination role and dental hygienists assist the care of dentist. Therefore, clinical dental hygienists should be promoted to medical personnel through the amendment of the medical law so that the duties practiced by the dental hygienist can be matched with the legal practice.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.463-471
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the causes of career interruptions among dental hygienists, institutional measures required for their long service and ways of creating a stable employment culture for them in determine how to resolve labor shortage, create stable jobs, and step up the reemployment of idle manpower. In addition, the following suggestions are made for the establishment of a stable employment culture for dental hygienists by analyzing related literature, research materials, and information such as forums for establishing appropriate jobs for female dental workers. First, a system should be set up to prevent career interruption among dental hygienists. The work environment should be improved to prevent career breaks, and the wages, working hours, and working style should be efficiently structured to maintain the tenure of employees. Second, a plan should be devised to make use of idle manpower, and a variety of necessary programs should be developed. With respect to regular working hours, the time conversion system should be used, which reduces the amount of time one would want to work while receiving a national subsidy. Third, dental hygienists working in different occupations for marriage, childbirth, childcare, school and personal hygiene should make a way to return to the dental system immediately when they want. Fourth, the government should take institutional measures and offer down-to-earth support and benefits for women consideration their social characteristics to guarantee a balance between work and childcare.

• 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 Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.453-462
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to investigate the education, certification system, and extent of duty of dental hygienist between Korea and five developed countries including United States, Canada, England, Australia, and Japan. Methods : Internet based access to five developed countries was made and the analysis was done for the definition of occupation, main duties, similar occupations, education policy, job descriptions, license certification system, standards of duty, Q & A management, current status of obtaining certification, and scope of work. Results : United States has a two-year associate degree(AS) and a four-year bachelor degree(BS). Canada has two to three years degree and a two-year course is accepted in england and Australia. In the meanwhile, Korea and Japan have two-year and four-year educational courses. The duty of dental hygienists includes the prevention education for dental health and continuing dental health care. Most of the dental hygienists in Korea and Japan play the assistant roles for the dental surgeons. United States has national board examinations including written examinations, practical examinations, and computer assisted examination. Written and practical examinations are also conducted in Korea. England and Australia have the recognized educational organizations for qualification. Conclusions : Problem based and problem solving skills are the most important in dental hygienist education in Korea. The training of highly competent dental hygienists must be done for the improvement of dental hygiene in Korea in the near future.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.69-75
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the systematic and convergent education needs according to the use of digital intraoral scanners in dental hygienists. Data of 127 respondents who participated in an online survey for dental hygienists working at dental hospitals and clinics were analyzed by the frequency analysis, t-test, one way ANOVA, and correlation using SPSS 24.0 program. The utilization period of digital intraoral scanners in the hospital was 'less than 1 year' in 78.7%. As for relevant education experience, 58.3% answered 'no', showing a higher proportion of no education experience. As for clinical application of digital intraoral scanners, 77.4% responded that they use the scanner for clinical purposes. With regard to digital intraoral scanner education, 61.4% responded that education is necessary. This result reflects the fact that digital intraoral scanners have been rapidly introduced to dental hospitals and clinics, but systematic education has not been given. Therefore, we hope that this paper will be used as basic data to recognize the need for education on digital intraoral scanners.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.620-627
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with medical care utilization, the level of recognition, satisfaction, revisit and recommendation after implementing the expanded health insurance coverage of dental scaling. A questionnaire survey was conducted and analyzed among 608 adults living in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do April 1st to 30th, 2014. The results of the survey are as follows: 76.9% of the respondents know the expanded health insurance coverage, which is influenced by educational background and monthly income. The level of satisfaction, revisit and recommendation intention is affected meaningfully by educational background. Two factors, high school graduate or less and dental hygienist, meaningfully affect patients' satisfaction with scaling, and recommendation from others and Internet searching contribute to revisit. High school graduate or less is also one of the factors affecting the intention of recommendation, along with recommendation from others, Internet searching, scaling by a dental hygienist, and oral hygiene education before scaling. Summing up the results, patient's satisfaction and intention to recommend are high when dental hygienists provide oral hygiene instruction prior to scaling. This study suggests that dental hygienists help patients feel comfortable before treatment by building rapport with them. In addition, it is required that consistent efforts for quality improvement in scaling be sustained, that the patient's needs be identified to increase their satisfaction with scaling, and that studies to verify relevant factors be conducted.

• 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.

• 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.7 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2007

As the number of elderly grows in today's modern socity, dental hygienist's role is more emphasized than ever before for hygiene management of the aged. It is also find out college students knowledge, attitude and behavior towards the elderly Form March and May 2007 three monthly during collected. This is study conducted through interview with college students who are majoring in dental hygiene of health care in Gyeong-Ju and will be in charge of oral hygiene According to the interview, this study obtains the following results: 1. The level of undergraduate students knowledge of elderly shows a total score of $8.39{\pm}2.80$. 2. The average score of undergraduate students attitude toward elderly is in a neutral range(50~70), recording $55.1{\pm}8.66$ on a scale of 100. 3. The average score of undergraduate students behavior toward elderly is in a neutral range(43~60), recording $28.7{\pm}6.17$on a scale of 85 and showing negative behavior. 4. Participating in volunteer job lead the significant differences in undergraduate students attitude toward elderly. 5. Participating in volunteer job lead the significant differences in undergraduate students behavior toward elderly, That is undergraduate students volunteer job with the show a positive behavior towards elderly.