• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.383-392
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study derived the core competencies for developing a curriculum for advanced practice dental hygienists in the elderly. Methods: A Delphi survey was conducted thrice times with 12 subjects engaged in dental hygiene-related activities for the elderly. Results: The item with the highest average in each domain was 'understanding the elderly (mean=5.00)' in basic qualities and attitude competency, 'understanding the oral health characteristics of the elderly (mean=5.00)' in the job competency, and 'development and evaluation of oral health programs for the elderly (mean=4.75)' in job support competency. Conclusions: The core competencies of dental hygienists specializing in the elderly are divided into 3 'basic qualifications and attitude competencies', 'job competencies', and 'job support competencies' 27 sub-competencies are presented.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.158-167
• /
• 2021

Background: To identify work-family balance and level of happiness among married women dental hygienists in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The goal of this study is to use the outcome as basic data to determine the compatibility of dental hygienists with work and family, systems, and improvement of happiness levels. Methods: From July 3 to August 10, 2020, 250 dental hygienists in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province were targeted. The questionnaire comprised 65 questions, including general characteristics (perception of work-family balance, perception of work-family balance system, job satisfaction, parenting type, happiness level) whether or not they were implemented. The results were obtained through a self-control questionnaire. Results: The perception of work-family balance was significantly different in job rank and average income, while that of the work-family balance system had significant differences in workplace type, total work experience, current job work experience, childcare system status, and parental leave period. Happiness level and job satisfaction were significantly different in job rank, average income, and childcare system status. Additionally, the perception of work-family balance and that of the work-family balance system showed a positive correlation with job satisfaction and happiness level. Finally, the perception of married women dental hygienists toward work-family compatibility was determined, where the higher the satisfaction with the job, the higher the level of happiness. Conclusion: To improve the work-family balance and job satisfaction of dental hygienists and their levels of happiness, changes in social perception and improvement of the working environment such as proper staffing, flexible work systems, and incentive systems should be considered.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.215-225
• /
• 2002

Objectives: Dental personnels have high chances of exposure to various infections during many dental procedures. This study was performed to investigate the state of infection control in the private dental clinics and prevention state of hepatitis B virus infection among the dental hygiene students in Kwanju city, Korea. Methods: Questionnaires were obtained from 94 dental hygiene students who participated in dental practice in private dental clinics for more than five weeks. Results: 83.9% of dentists and 17.2% of dental hygienists routinely used the mask for treating all patients, 32.3% of dentists and 6.5% of dental hygienists routinely used the rubber gloves. The use of protective eyeware was much lower in each group. Disinfectant was used in 52.7% for sanitization of dental instruments before cleansing. The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs were 3.8% and 67.1% respectively, 52.7% of dental hygiene students had history of accidental needle stick. Conclusion: Routine use of personal barrier techniques by dental personnels should be emphasized. Dental hygiene students were not properly immunized against hepatitis B virus and had high incidence of accidental needle stick. It is necessary to establish specific regulations or recommendations for cross infection control in dental practice and to performed scheduled vaccination program for hepatitis B virus for dental hygiene students.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.19-30
• /
• 2021

Background: To confirm verbal violence experience in dental hygiene students and to verify its influence on their self-esteem and career identity. Methods: Data were collected using a structured self-reported questionnaire targeting 180 dental hygiene students at M University. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis were performed using SPSS WIN 25.0. Results: Older students reported that they experienced verbal violence more frequently during clinical training, especially those who were dissatisfied with clinical training. The students experienced verbal violence more frequently from dental hygienists than from dentists and patients. Dental hygiene students had high self-esteem and career identity. The students who were majorly satisfied with clinical training had higher self-esteem and career identity than those who were dissatisfied. Dental hygiene students had lower self-esteem and career identity when they experience verbal violence more frequently from dentists and dental hygienists during clinical training and clinical practice. Conclusion: An intervention program needs to be developed to prevent verbal violence against dental hygiene students and a strategy to increase their self-esteem and career identity is required.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.247-258
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the correlation between belief in hand hygiene, activities and related hand hygiene performance rates among dental staff. Methods: This study was based on the evaluation of 329 dental practitioners, including dental hygienists who work at dental clinics, dental hospitals, general and university dental hospitals in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Incheon. The questionnaire consisted of a total of 46 questions, including 7 questions on general characteristics, and 25 questions on hand hygiene beliefs, and 5 questions on hand hygiene activities, and 9 questions on hand hygiene practices. This study used 291 subjects for the final analysis, excluding subjects who had provided incomplete or inappropriate responses to the questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using an independent t-test, ANOVA, $x^2$ test, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis, where p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Longer clinical career was associated with a significant increase in behavior and norm beliefs, but no sequential difference in control beliefs. The hand hygiene performance was higher in staff at larger hospitals after contact with pollutants and contaminated environments. Higher age was associated with a significant increase in hand hygiene performance rates, but profession was not statistically significant in the performance rate of hand hygiene. The hand hygiene performance rate was ranked higher among those with average work hours per week of greater than 8 hours followed by those who worked fewer than 8 hours. Fewer work hours per week, a stronger belief in hand hygiene, less frequent exposure to contaminated environments, and a greater number of hand hygiene performance had a positive effect on higher hand hygiene performance rates. Conclusions: In order to increase the hand hygiene performance rate of dental practitioners, it is considered that required time for hand washing should be ensured sufficiently. Proper usage of hand sanitizers should also be promoted efficiently.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.235-243
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study compared the number of graduates in each region for the past 6 years and the number of dental hygienists working in dental clinics by region to evaluate the trend of dental hygienists moving to work areas after graduation. Methods: Health care big data open system_medical manpower statistics, resident population and household status data by year, and education statistics service were used to calculate the number of dentists and dental hygienists, admission status by region, number of dental hygienists per 100,000 population, number of dental hygienists per number of dentists, and distribution of dental hygienists by region. Results: Although the number of active dental hygienists increased in the metropolitan area, the ratio of dental hygienists to dentists did not improve significantly. In addition, the number of students enrolled in provincial universities decreased, and there were fewer active dental hygienists than graduates in provincial areas. Conclusions: Although the number of active dental hygienists increased due to increase in the number of dental hygiene departments, it was found that rural areas did not have a significant impact on the availability of dental hygienists as the graduates moved to the metropolitan area.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.137-146
• /
• 2015

Objectives: This study was obtained to identify current education status of the community dental hygiene practice. Methods: It was designed cross section and self-reported on-line questionnaire(Survey monkey). It was performed probability sampling by targeting 82 dental hygiene schools(each one faculty member) in charge of community dental hygiene curriculum and 254 community health centers's community dental hygienists whom was working at oral health section. The response rate was 60% and 53%, respectively. The questionnaire consisted of time, duration, practice group, evaluation method, and practice contents including 63 learning objectives of dental hygiene. Results: Nearly half of these schools conduct such community field work practice in the spring semester of the junior year. This practice was mainly progressed based on average 4 students as one team per each one school for 7-8 hours a day during the period of more than 5 weeks(p<0.05). However, in case of both school and community health center, almost half of feedback after practice was not achieved and there was a difference in needs for practice education between schools and community health center. Conclusions: We should be considered that a sufficient consultation for the practice environment and its contents between schools and community health centers. It was considered that development of a standardized practice manual reflecting such requirement.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the image and the awareness of dental hygienists in dental hygiene and non-dental hygiene students. The subjects in this study were 414 students who were in the three-year-course department of dental hygiene and in another four-year-course non-dental hygiene department in G college in the city of Gwangju. After a survey was conducted, the collected data were analyzed. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. As a result of general awareness about dental hygienists, the dental hygiene students knew 97.5% and non-dental hygiene students knew 80.6% about dental hygientist as a job. There were significant differences(p<0.001). In regard of awareness about status in medical law, medical technician was the highest in the dental hygiene students(52.8%), and medical assistant was the highest in the non-dental hygiene students(48.8%) 2. As a result of awareness about the main tasks of dental hygienists X-ray and scaling were the highest in the dental hygiene students(42.3%), and treatment assistance was the highest in the non-dental hygiene students(32.9%). 3. In regard to awareness about image of dental hygienists, both groups were the highest in professionalism and were the lowest in negative image. All variable were differences statistically between dental hygiene and non-dental hygiene students(p<0.05).

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.123-144
• /
• 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the bibliographic characteristics and research trends of the literature published on the profession of dental hygiene to provide basic data for research, education, and intervention program development for the establishment of healthy professionalism among dental hygienists and dental hygienist students. Methods: A literature search was conducted through four databases. They were looked up using the terms "dental hygiene" and "professional." Finally, 46 research papers that meet the selection criteria were selected for analysis. Results: From 2004 to 2022, 46 articles were published. Except for key words related to subjects and tools, key words ranked at the top were job satisfaction, self-esteem, self-leadership, and stress. Five tools of professionalism-professional self-concept, professional intuition, professional identity, and a professional values scale -were used in the study. Conclusion: Considering the social perception of dental hygienists as professionals and the reality of dental hygiene that is carrying out the process of professionalization, efforts are needed to identify and promote beliefs and attitudes toward professionals such as professionalism and professional identity.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2007

It has passed 40 years since dental hygiene was introduced to Korea. At this time, We hereby demonstrate the findings from the survey on the academic definition and developmental direction of dental hygiene. This survey has been conducted on dental hygiene majoring students, dental clinic hygienists of health & medical care and related professors in the dental field. The findings show that there exists a big disparity in defining the academic scope of dental hygiene among students, clinical dental hygienists of health & medical care and university professors. Accordingly, we suggest that the academic scope of dental hygiene should be explained in a uniform definition. In addition, the results of this survey suggest that they feel that the status of dental hygiene is really behind other study fields, in view of such high response thereto. For development of dental hygiene study and enhancement of its social status, the joint professional study by private, government and scholars should be immediately promoted and a wide variety of programs for dental hygiene should be continuously implemented under the auspices of government and academic world.