• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.413-423
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the general characteristics, oral health knowledge and oral health behavior of elderly people and the relationship of their oral health knowledge to practice of the knowledge in an attempt to provide information on the development of the senior oral health care system. Methods : The subjects in this study were 324 elderly people who used five different social welfare centers in the regions of Sooncheon and Yeosoo. Results : 1. The oral health knowledge of the elderly people investigated was at a low level. Among different sorts of oral health knowledge, they had the best knowledge on the cause of dental caries, and they were most ignorant about the right time for regular dental checkup. 2. Regarding connections between general characteristics and oral health knowledge, the elderly people who never went to a dentist had a better knowledge on oral health, and those who cared about oral health had a better knowledge than the others who didn't. 3. As to practice of oral health knowledge, the best oral health behavior they did was to clean the tongue during toothbrushing, and oral health behavior was not to have an unbalanced diet. The second best one was to be well-nourished, and the third best one was to refrain from drinking, smoking and eating sugar-containing food. The fourth best one was to get a regular dental check-up and teeth cleaned. 4. There was a positive correlation between oral health knowledge and oral health behavior. A better oral health knowledge led to a better oral health behavior. Conclusions : The better oral health knowledge of the elderly people was followed by a better oral health behavior, and the development and implementation of customized oral health education programs geared toward the elderly are urgently required. Oral health professionals should direct their energy into providing sustainable and systematic oral health education, and institutional measures should be taken to make it happen.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.875-887
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• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this study is to provide basic data needed in developing an educational program designed to upgrade capacity and awareness of preventive dental treatment among oral health workers, by analyzing levels of awareness of preventive dental treatment and educational needs among dentists and dental hygienists. Methods: The collected data was analyzed with SPSS program ver. 19.0. The data was under t-test. Results: The frequency level of giving preventive dental treatment to patients among dentists and dental hygienists is below mid-point, 3 on the 5-point Likert scale. In terms of frequency level per item, scaling & polishing was ranked the highest, followed by periodontal maintenance, tooth-brushing instruction, and prescription and instruction of oral care product in descending order. On the questions asking how important preventive dental care they perceive to be, both dentists and dental hygienists perceived it to be highly important. When they were asked to rank those items by the importance of education, they considered periodontal maintenance as the most important one, followed by individual education of oral health, incremental oral health care, scaling& polishing, toothbrushing instruction, and prescription and instruction of oral care product. Respondents pointed out problems in running a preventive dental treatment program as follows: overwork, lack of dedicated workforce, un-fixed costs, and lack of necessary equipment. When they were asked to point out items needed to run such a program, the largest number of respondents indicated dedicated workforce placement, followed by improving awareness of the customer, and improving awareness of the dental workers. Conclusions: In order to effectively run a preventive dental treatment program, it is necessary for oral health workers to clearly understand the concept of it. It is also necessary to develop and operate an education program on preventive dental treatment targeting oral health professionals.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.81-92
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• 2013

This research was conducted to analyze the perception of the dental hygienists who work in ordinary dental clinics regading patient safety culture and to analyze the related elements. As for the research subjects and methods, 233 dental hygienists who work at the dental clinics located in Daegu, Gyeongbuk and Jeonnam were targeted from February 6, 2012 to March 5, 2012 to administer survey by utilizing patient safety culture recognition tool. Collected data was subjected to the SPSS 18.0 program to calculate average and standard deviation, and to carry out t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. Dental hygienists' level of perception towards patient safety culture was mid level, and it was demonstrated that there is a correlation with age, work experience at department, title and type of department that affect level of perception towards patient safety culture. In conclusion, Since this research targeted only a limited number of dental hygienists, it is necessary to be cautious about over-interpreting the results. Above anything, it is necessary to carry out repetitive research by targeting medical professionals of diverse jobs.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.805-816
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the oral health knowledge among workers at nursing homes, and needs to educate them on elderly oral care. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by 241 workers at nursing homes in Gwangju and Jeonnam, Korea from May to June, 2016. The data were analyzed with the SPSS 19.0 program for independent t-test or one-way ANOVA analysis. Results: The data analysis showed that workers at nursing homes had lower knowledge about periodontal diseases (65.1%) than about denture management (78.5%). The knowledge of periodontal disease and denture management of workers with experience of oral care education for elderly was significantly higher than that of non-experienced ones (p<0.01). On the question whether those workers should get oral health care education is necessary or not, respondents answered positively (They scored 4.10 points on the 5-point Likert scale from 1 point - Not at all to 5 points - definitely yes). Conclusions: It is necessary to provide elderly oral care education to workers at nursing homes. Furthermore, oral health professionals should be deployed for systematic and practical oral care for elderly.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.285-293
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• 2015

Purpose: The following study analyzes the mediating effects of professionalism on the relationship between major selection conviction and career decision level of dental technology students. It is to be used as basic data for improvement of the students' career decision level and an effective way to train professionals of the colleges. Methods: The survey was conducted on dental technology students. The collected data was analyzed by the statistical program SPSS 18.0. The results were analyzed by reliability, frequency, multiple-way ANOVA, correlation, multiple regression. To test for significance on each item, p<0.05 has been decided as a standard. Results: The analysis shows that the students' age and clinical practice experience bring a significant difference in major selection conviction, career decision level and professionalism. Professionalism has been found to bring significance mediating effects in relation to major selection conviction and career decision level. Conclusion: To improve the quality and pride as a professional as well as satisfaction with major selection can be expected to raise the standard of the students' career decision level.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1101-1110
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to research and to analyze the relationship between oral health state of infants and oral health awareness of their parents. Methods : The study has been conducted for 196 infants ranging from the age 18 to 60 month and their parents who have visited three dental clinics in Gyeongju city. The questionnaire has been made to identify the parents' oral health knowledge and behavior, while the dentist has examined the dental care, toothbrushing, and malocclusion of infants. Results : According to the results, it has been found out that there is correlation between subject's health status and oral health status where the higher point of subject's health status lead to the point of oral health status accordingly. Also it has been additionally recognized that there is the relationship between the awareness of parents and the oral health status of their infants in the same way. Conclusions : The parents who have low oral health awareness are required by oral health professionals to be provided with information on infant oral health, in order to promote and to maintain healthy oral status of their infants. And the specific training on method how to care oral health is needed. In addition, the government should take the detailed measures by extending infant's medical benefits to draw their attention to the issue.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.291-298
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• 2023

Purpose : Although Korea's health insurance system and access to medical care are well established compared to other countries, the rate of non-fulfillment of dental treatment is high. Medical use rates can be affected by economic characteristics, individual heatlh condtions, health concerns, and health behaviors. This study was implemented to investigate the effect of the middle-aged elderly people's family living together on the dental examination rate and to use it as basic data for program development, research, and poicies to promote oral health. Methods : Raw data from the 7th national health and nutrition survey conducted by the Korea centers for disease control and prevention (2016~2018) were used and analyzed using SPSS 21.0 Version (IBM, United States). Results : As a result of the study family types accroding to general characteristics, the more women are (p<.001), the higther the age (p<.001), the lower the hosehold income level (p<.001), the lower the educational background (p<.001), the more people who live in Eup-Myeon (p<.001) It was fouend that the rate of living alone was high. The dental examination rate according to general characteristics was related to age (p<.001), income (p<.001), and educational background (p<.001), and the higher the examination rate was in the same (p<.001), and the higher the family living together (p<.001). Factors influencing whether or not dental treatment was not performed were in the following order: household income (p<.001), age (p=.001), and family type (p=.017). Conclusion : The above results confirmed the relationship between family membership and dental examination rates, and measures such as the development and operation of participatory programs to improve public oral health by resolving medical inequality and enhancing health equity, and it is believed that the development of professional manpower and the operation of education and programs for professionals are necessary.

• 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.5 no.3
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• pp.119-124
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• 2005

The present study accentuate to investigate attitude about oral health education. The purpose is to provide awareness the importance of oral health education in dental clinics. A total of 350 surveys were over the age of 18 who visited oral health institutes in Chollabuk-Do, Korea. Survey was conducted with self-reported questionnaires from March 22 through April 10, 2004. The results were as follows: 1. 71.7% of the dental patients visited dental clinic for treatment of oral diseases and 45.0% the largest group, acquired information on oral health through massmedia and the internet. 2. In their curiosity about oral health satisfied, female, better educated and professionals made a higher request. 3. Awareness of oral health education was significantly different according to gender, age and marital status. Dentists were most highly regarded as oral health educators.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.601-614
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the present conditions and problems of oral health care in senior citizens with dementia using a qualitative research method, through focused group interviews. Methods: Data was collected for approximately one month from May 2019. The subjects were divided into two groups: care workers and family caregivers. Fifteen participants were included in the study. Results: In-depth interviews with the care workers revealed the following three categories: characteristics of senile dementia patients, oral health care in senile dementia patients, and oral health care education. In-depth interviews with the family caregivers revealed the following four categories: characteristics of senile dementia patients, oral health care in senile dementia patients, oral health care education, and burden of care. The central themes common to both the care workers and family caregivers were the challenges owing to the characteristics of senile dementia patients, poor health condition of the senile dementia patients, difficulty in oral health care of the senile dementia patients, the desire to receive oral health care education and related information, and to access the information more easily. Additional central themes specific to the care workers were, the applicability of the intervention programs, variability between the facilities, and the problems of oral health care education. An additional central theme specific to the family caregivers was the burden of care. Conclusions: It is necessary to provide oral health care education and information to care workers and family caregivers of senile dementia patients, and to manage and support the dental health professionals ready to care for senile dementia patients. In addition, support to the family caregivers should not be limited only to the financial aspects, but also consider the psychological and emotional difficulties.