• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.161-169
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to examined the demand for the change in Korean dental hygiene curriculum. This study compared the dental hygiene curriculum of domestic and overseas university and tired to provide the basic data for the development of standard curriculum that meets the education policy changes. Methods: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 1,192 participants including dental hygiene professors, dental hygienists and students. Data were collected by mail, telephone call from the professors and research assistants, email, and direct visit from June 10 to August 10, 2013. The questionnaire consisted of 4 questions of general characteristics of the subjects and 13 questions of dental hygiene curriculum. Results: The professors answered the development of integrated dental hygiene curriculum as the first priority(48.9%) and dental hygienists(51.6%) and students(42.6%) chose the development of new dental hygiene curriculum(p<0.001). In the analysis of validity of dental hygiene curriculum, the professors gave 3.29 to the validity of evaluation for basic job performance, and the clinical dental hygienists and the students gave 3.05 and 3.26 points, respectively(p<0.001). In relation to the necessity of the change of the dental hygiene curriculums, the professors gave 4.17 points which implied that curriculum change is the most important and necessary thing to do. The clinical dental hygienists and the students gave 3.90 and 3.47 points, respectively(p<0.001). Conclusions: The above-mentioned findings suggest that the revision of the current Korean dental hygiene curriculums is required. Therefore organizations related to dental hygiene including professor association and Korean Dental Hygienists Association should carefully rebuild the curriculum to improve the competency of dental hygienists. They should take the initiative in the development of a standardized curriculum.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.891-902
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to propose contents of a curriculum and training program for dental hygienists as medical professionals by surveying the opinions of clinical dental hygienists and dental hygiene professors. Methods: The subjects were 192 clinical dental hygienists and 193 dental hygiene professors. They answered questionnaires that consisted of grading each task based on its importance: a) for dental hygiene students to learn, b) to perform autonomously in clinical practice, and c) the expectancy of the task to change when dental hygienists become medical professionals. Data analysis was performed using an independent sample T test to capture differences between clinical dental hygienists and dental hygiene professors. The terms in the answers of open-ended questionnaires were extracted. We used R 3.5.0, R Recommender, and Wordcloud software packages. Results: Calculus removal had the highest scores for dental hygiene students to learn and expectancy to change when dental hygienists become medical professionals. Physiotherapy of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), planning, performing, and assessment of community oral health programs had the lowest scores in autonomy in clinical practice. The dental hygiene professors gave higher scores in most of the tasks for dental hygiene students to learn, autonomy in clinical practice, and expectancy to change, than did clinical dental hygienists. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), job ethics, and communication were the most frequently mentioned terms in the training as medical professionals program contents. Conclusions: In the future, it will be necessary to study the curriculum to improve the proficiency of dental hygienists as medical professionals.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2020

Introduction: All work of dental hygienists in Korea is to be carried out under the supervision of a dentist, but the main tasks of dental hygienists are systematic and sufficiently trained within the college curriculum. The purpose of this study was to compare the curriculum between the Department of Dental Hygiene and the Department of Dentistry to provide a basis for legal revision of the dental hygienist's unique work. Methods: The curriculum was acquired from the homepage of the Department of Dental Hygiene and Dentistry. The curriculum in 23 of 28 dental hygiene schools and 6 of 11 dental schools was identified on the homepage. The swere classified based on the scope of dental hygienist work. Results: The Department of Dentistry has more than twice the number of credits and subjects compared to the Department of Dental Hygiene, and the top subjects belong to the treatment and rehabilitation of dental diseases. However, in the field of preventive dentistry, which is a unique work of dental hygienists, the Department of Dental Hygiene has a score of 9.3 times higher than that of dentistry. In the public oral health field, the oral health education field, and the dental management field, dental hygienists scored twice as high as dentists. Conclusion: Since dental hygienists are receiving more education than dentists in the areas of preventive dentistry, public oral health, oral health education, and dental management, which are unique tasks, it is suggested that the work can be performed independently without supervision of the dentist.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.155-163
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• 2018

This study's aim was to investigate their opinions to improve the educational system for dental hygienists on the basis of their duties as dental hygienists. The qualitative study was conducted among 19 dental hygienists at Daejeon, Korea from July to August 2016. Two researchers followed each subject for working hours in a day and recorded all the tasks and time to take for each task. After one day, the researchers met each subject and conducted face-to-face interviews to investigate the opinions about the dental hygiene curriculum and national board examination. The main duties recognized by more than half of the subjects were oral disease prevention including scaling and dental treatment assistance. The subjects' minority opinion about the main duties included radiography, impression taking, dental implant surgery assistance, orthodontic treatment, patient counseling, dental management and staff management, and oral health education. The most important tasks perceived by the subjects were prosthetic and implant impressions, scaling and implant surgery assistance. The subjects' minority opinion about the most important duties included patient counseling and making temporary crowns. The most difficult tasks answered by the subjects were prosthetic and implant impressions and dental implant surgery assistance. The subjects' minority opinion about it included patient counseling, scaling, and making temporary crowns. They mentioned that their curriculum in college was different from the actual work and the national board examination was not reflective of their real duties. We found out Korean dental hygienists had a lot of roles as dental assistants, dental business managers, and so on. We suggest that the law, curriculum and national board examination for dental hygienists should be revised to be able to reflect the reality of the clinical field.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.193-207
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• 2004

The aims of the study are as following : First, define and clarify the role and function of the dental hygienist. Second, based on thai definition, present an improved dental hygienist curriculum, improving their special competence. This study seeks to present a way for promoting role of dental hygienists as independent specialists, rather than as auxiliaries, contributing to better dental service in the process. The research was pursued by surveying by questionnaire those directly related to dental hygiene. They are 58 professors of dental hygiene, 164 dentists, 253 dental hygienists and 496 dental hygiene students, selected by the method of simple random sampling. Due to the small size of the sample, professors' group was analysed only through frequency and probabilities. For groups with larger samples(dentists, dental hygienists, dental hygiene students), methods of chi square(${\chi}^2$) tests, frequency analysis and one-way ANOVA were used in their analysis. Conclusions of the study are as following : First, role and function of the dental hygienist was defined and clarified. According to the analysis of the survey, main role of the dental hygienists as perceived by 62.9% of dentists was supporting treatments and managing patients and facility. This perception by dentists differs significantly to perception of other groups, which saw main role of dental hygienists as preventive dental treatment and dental hygiene education. Also, only 20.2% of dental hygienists perceived patients and facility management as their main role. This divergence of perception between groups weakens speciality competence of dental hygienists. To strengthen dental hygienists' speciality competence, preventive dental treatment and dental hygiene education must be defined as main role of dental hygienists. Furthermore, role of dental hygienists can be categorized into cooperative and auxiliary role. Second, in order to strengthen speciality competence of dental hygienists, their education must be augmented with curriculum emphasizing cooperative role. Specifically, courses on preventive dental treatment, dental hygiene education and dental X-ray photography must become compulsory, as well as becoming more comprehensive and organized. Also, training in schools and hospitals must be focused on those subjects. In addition, courses concerning auxiliary role must be incorporated into optional courses and more pedagogical courses are needed to widen students' career choices. Third, practical relevance of national dental hygienist certification examination must be heightened. In the survey, all groups gave negative response to questions concerning practical relevance of national dental hygienist certification test. Specifically, contents of the tests must be changed to test participants' competence in the cooperative area. Also, the test itself must be strengthened by adding practical examination to the certification scheme, as well as having more difficult examinations.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.200-205
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of dental hygienists in Japan. The study explicated the history, core curriculum, National Examination for Dental Hygienists, work roles of dental hygienists, and workplaces of dental hygienists. This study was based on the government policy report on dental hygienists and the information published by each public institution. The latest statistics presented by the institutions were collected through official websites. The employment information of graduates from Hiroshima University was analyzed based on actual field study. The results of the study revealed that social demand for dental hygienists has steadily increased and policies and education have been revised accordingly. The work roles of dental hygienists have expanded to meet the needs of the treatment and those of public health fields. In line with major policy changes, the educational period has been extended from 1 year to 3 or 4 years, while the mandatory credits for graduation have been established. Licensing examinations were being performed by the local governments since 1948 due to the different situations of dental hygienists in different areas. In 1992, they were converted into a single national examination. The work roles have expanded from assisting dental treatments to health guidance, home care, and perioperative care. Consequently, the number of dental hygienists has increased, especially in healthcare facilities for the elderly. Dental hygienists perform various roles. However, the most essential role is to provide the best oral care services to the patient. The expected role of dental hygienists has expanded in alignment with public healthcare needs and support for the elderly. The government and universities are expected to bring about improvements such as diversifying the channels of education and establishing policies to respond to growing patient needs by cultivating excellent dental hygiene professionals.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.126-129
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• 2022

Background: The problem with current dental hygienist education is that it operates as an education system based on the national examination rather than on a practical basis; thus, graduates have difficulties in practice after obtaining their license. This study aimed to propose a job-oriented curriculum by analyzing the links between the task analysis of Korean dental hygienists and dental hygiene learning goals. Methods: This study performed a relationship analysis based on a second job analysis study of dental hygienists conducted by the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute and the learning goals of the Korean Dental Hygiene Faculty Association. Results: Based on the links between the task and learning goals of the dental hygienist, they were classified into six types: 1) tasks listed in the license exam and learning goal, 2) tasks not listed in the license exam but listed in learning goals, 3) tasks not listed in learning goals, 4) learning goals not related to tasks, 5) learning goals listed in a few tasks, and 6) tasks related to several learning goals. The results showed that most of them correspond to the 5th classification, followed by the 3rd and 4th categories, which are mostly basic science learning goals. Tasks without learning goals are not included in the curriculum; thus, the curriculum needs to be supplemented. The overlapping learning goals of several subjects for one job skill must be reduced in job-oriented education. Conclusion: We suggest that the dental hygiene curriculum be developed based on task analysis and reflected in the national dental hygienist exam. The clinical practice performance of dental hygienists will take further leap forward through task-oriented education.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-53
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• 2024

Background: To train dental hygienists to utilize knowledge in practice, an integrated curriculum based on the competencies of dental hygienists is expanding; however, in the field of basic dental hygiene the curriculum is still fragmented and based on segmented knowledge. This study developed an integrated curriculum based on the competencies of dental hygienists in Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Physiology, which are subjects for basic dental hygiene that have high linkage and overlap. Methods: After selecting the learning objectives for the integrated curriculum from those of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Physiology, the duties of the dental hygienist in relation to the learning objectives were analyzed. Learning objectives were combined with the duties of a dental hygienist to derive competencies for an integrated curriculum. Referring to the syllabus and learning objectives for each subject, the weekly educational content, learning objectives, and credits of the integrated curriculum were derived. After conducting a Delphi survey to validate the competency and content of the derived integrated curriculum, an integrated curriculum was developed. Results: By using the first and second Delphi surveys, four competencies were developed for dental hygienists that can be achieved through an integrated basic dental hygiene curriculum. In addition, an integrated curriculum including the courses Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Physiology, Structure and Function of the Human Body/Head/Neck, and Structure and Function of the Oral Cavity was established. Conclusion: This study presents a specific example for developing a competency-based integrated curriculum that can be used as a framework to derive a competency-based integrated curriculum among subjects that can be integrated according to the linkage of learning contents and the competencies that can be achieved.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.455-462
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the curriculum components affecting the professionalism of dental hygienists and to explore what improvements should be done for each of the influential curriculum components to boost the belief and attitude of dental hygienists. The subjects in this study were 934 dental hygiene students, 76 dental hygiene professors, and 285 dental hygienists, on whom a survey was conducted in person, by mail and by e-mail from April 10 to June 12, 2009. The collected data from 1,295 respondents were analyzed. First, overall dental hygiene professionalism was predicted by intellectual development, vocational education, socio-culturalization, ethics and creativity, which were educational objectives of curriculum, and that didn't have a close relationship to interpersonal understanding and selfactualization. Second, overall dental hygienist professionalism was predicted by learning interest, learning possibility and the significance of subjects, which were selection criteria of teaching content, and that wasn't closely linked to the validity of subjects and social significance. Third, overall dental hygienist professionalism was predicted by continuity and integrity, which were organizing principles of teaching content, and that didn't have a strong relationship to sequence. Fourth, overall dental hygienist professionalism was predicted by the content of school evaluation and school evaluation criteria, which were evaluation elements of curriculum, and that wasn't closely linked to the method of school evaluation, the content of the national exam, the criteria of the national exam and the method of the national exam.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.793-803
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of dental hygiene curricula related to clinical practice in Korea. Methods: Clinical work included the categories 'history taking, infection control, oral prophylaxis, preventive treatment, education/counseling, radiography/reading, assisting/cooperation, impression/bite registration, anesthesia, etc.', and 66 works were finally selected based on the frequent tasks of dental hygienists. The subjects were made to answer nine questionnaires. Results: It was found that the theory and practice of the main works operated quite differently in lectures and practice in each school. All types of practice were applied to all schools in the case of 'scaling'. The evaluation of clinical practice was also found to be very different from school to school. Conclusions: For dental hygienists to establish expertise in clinical practice and promote quality improvement, it is necessary to develop a core curriculum focusing on clinical practice. The standardized curriculum should be improved to an efficient and competency-centered one defining clearly the role of dental hygienists considering the needs and importance of clinical practice.