• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.347-365
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• 1995

A survey was conducted to study perception and attitudes of health workers towards health center's activities and organization of health services, from August 15 to September 30, 1994. The study population was 310 health workers engaged in seven urban health centers in Taegu City area. A questionnaire method was used to collect data and response rate was 81.3 percent or 252 respondents. The following are summaries of findings: Profiles of study population: Health workers were predominantly female(62.3%); had college education(60.3%); and held medical and nursing positions(39.6%), technicians(30.6%) and public health/administrative positions(29.8%). Perceptions on health center's resources: Slightly more than a half(51.1%) of respondents expressed that physical facilities of the centers are inadequate; equipments needed are short(39.0%); human resource is inadequate(44.8%); and health budget allocated is insufficient(38.5%) to support the performance of health center's activities. Decentralization and health services: The majority revealed that the decentralization of government system would affect the future activities of health centers(51.9%) which may have to change. However, only one quarter of respondents(25.4%) seemed to view the decentralization positively as they expect that it would help perform health activities more effectively. The majority of the respondents(78.6%) insisted that the function and organization of the urban health centers should be changed. Target workload and job satisfaction: A large proportion (43.3%) of respondents felt that present target setting systems for various health activities are unrealistic in terms of community needs and health center's situation while only 11.1 percent responded it positively; the majority(57.5%) revealed that they need further training in professional fields to perform their job more effectively; more than one third(35.7%) expressed that they enjoy their professional autonomy in their job performance; and a considerable proportion (39.3%) said they are satisfied with their present work. Regarding the personnel management, more worker(47.3%) perceived it negatively than positive(11.5%) as most of workers seemed to think the personnel management practiced at the health centers is not fair or justly done. Health services rendered: Among health services rendered, health workers perceived the following services are most successfully delivered; they are, in order of importance, Tb control, curative services, and maternal and child health care. Such areas as health education, oral health, environmental sanitation, and integrated health services are needed to be strengthening. Regarding the community attitudes towards health workers, 41.3 percent of respondents think they are trusted by the community they serve. New areas of concern identified which must be included in future activities of health centers are, in order of priority, health care of elderly population, home health care, rehabilitation services, and such chronic diseases control programs as diabetes, hypertension, school health and mental health care. In conclusion, the study revealed that health workers seemed to have more negative perceptions and attitudes than positive ones towards organization and management of health services and activities performed by the urban health centers where they are engaged. More specifically, the majority of health workers studied revealed to have the following areas of health center's organization and management inadequate or insufficient to support effective performance of their health activities: Namely, physical facilities and equipments required are inadequate; human and financial resources are insufficient; personnel management is unsatisfactory; setting of service target system is unrealistic in terms of the community needs. However, respondents displayed a number of positive perceptions, particularly to those areas as further training needs and implementation of decentralization of government system which will bring more autonomy of local government as they perceived these change would bring the necessary changes to future activities of the health center. They also displayed positive perceptions in their job autonomy and have job satisfactions.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.69 no.3
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• pp.121-140
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to use the Korea Health Panel to determine how the mother's characteristic and household characteristic variables were associated with dental clinic use of children in childhood and adolescence. The logistic regression analysis found that mother's education level was statistically significantly positively correlated with underage child's dental clinic use and children in single-parent family were less likely to use a dental clinic than those in two-parent family. As for dental clinic use by diseases, the higher level of mother's education, the more likely to use a dental clinic due to dental caries and children in single-parent family were less likely to use a dental clinic due to dental caries than those in two-parent family. No difference in dental clinic use due to tooth extraction was found by any of mother's characteristics or household characteristics, probably because age has an absolute impact during the period between milk teeth and permanent teeth. Lastly, mother's education level and household income were significantly positively correlated with dental clinic use due to orthodontics. On the basis of these results, it is necessary to develop a customized strategy reflecting children's growth stages and household characteristics in making a plan for promoting oral health of children and adolescents.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2003

In order to develop the program of oral hygiene education for elementary school senior-students, a questionnaire survey of elementary fourth, fifth and sixth students who are under continual control program of oral hygiene. (1) For tooth brushing time, after dinner is more than before. 73.7% of respondents brushed the teeth twice or more a day. (2) 62.1% of respondents took the cariogenic food twice or more a day. (3) 90.1% of respondents had visited a dental clinic. (4) Concerning fear for dental treatment, only 14.4% had a feeling of fear. (5) Regarding the experience with a preventive treatment, 39.7% had an experience with pit and fissure sealing, and 24.2% had an experience with the application of fluorides. (6) 46.2% of respondents had a preference for the fluoride mouth rinsing program, and 38.4% wanted that program to keep going on. As to the reason to favor the fluoride mouth rinsing program, 38.2% preferred it because of prevention of dental caries, and 43.0%, the largest percentage, didn't favor it because they found it too much trouble to do. (7) Comparing with the research result in 2000, we proved positively the educational effect of brushing frequency, positive understanding and preference to water school fluoridation program, and got the negative data of experience of visiting to oral clinic and preventive treatment.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.33-49
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• 2010

Obiectives : The purpose of this study was to develop PBL packages geared toward improving the problem-solving abilities, self-directed learning capabilities and communicative competency of dental hygienists, which were all required for dental hygienists to have in the dental field. Methods : After three PBL packages for a semester of oral health education were developed, the PBL packages were evaluated by an expert to determine what improvements should be made. Results : The findings of the study were as follows. The three PBL packages were based on real clinical situations and designed to have a different degree of difficulty and provide problems in the form of scenario for learners to solve in a self-directed manner. When the packages were assessed by an expert, the packages were expected to make a contribution to the improvement of the three different abilities on which this study focused, and the packages were found to be appropriate in general in terms of learning content and field applicability, though they needed some modifications. Thus, this study attempted to develop PBL packages and let an expert assess the packages in order to give some suggestions about the development of PBL packages. The packages developed in this study are expected to help boost the problem-solving abilities, self-directed learning capabilities and communicative competency of dental hygienists, which should all be possessed by dental hygienists in the dental field. Moreover, the packages were found to be conducive to the introduction of PBL in the field of dental hygiene. Conclusions : To ensure the successful application of the packages, dental hygiene students should be provided with the packages in situations similar to real clinical situations, and they should have an opportunity to practice dental hygiene duties.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2005

The study aimed to estimate the importance of job tasks, job training requirement and work satisfaction felt by dental hygienists to help dental hygienists work efficiently and effectively. A total of 142 dental hygienists working in dental hospitals located in J participated in the study. A SPSS 10.10 for Windows was used for statistical analysis. The statistical significance was defined as ${\alpha}$=.05. The results of the study are summarized as follows: 1. The mean score for the importance of job tasks was 4.09. The respondents considered dental clinic management and assistance to dentists the most important among their job descriptions showing the mean score of 4.44. The need for job training was 4.15 in average. The respondents wanted to have training on how to make a dental health insurance claim to receive payment other than any training with the mean score of 4.42. The work satisfaction of the respondents was 3.65 in average. The respondents were most satisfied with their work in dental assistance. 2. By the category of job tasks, the levels of importance of job tasks, job training requirement and work satisfaction were higher in plague removal with an ultrasonic scaler related to clinical oral prophylaxis, pit and fissure sealants related to preventive dental treatment and instruction in the correct usage of toothbrush related to public dental health education 3. In dealing with dental radiation machines, the radiation protection was considered the most important. While the training for periapical radiography was most needed, the respondents were satisfied with working in the same area. The levels of job importance, training requirement and work satisfaction were high in preventive dental care in the community performed in relation to the public dental health care. 4. In the dental health insurance claim category, the levels of importance of job task, training requirement and work satisfaction were higher in insurance claiming. The levels of job importance and training requirement were high in dental clinic management and assistance to dentists performed for preventive dental treatment. The work satisfaction was higher in maintaining medical chart records. The levels of job importance, training requirement and work satisfaction were higher in dental assistance in relation to dental protection. 5. There was significant relationship between the level of importance and work experience. Those with a longer period of work experience had higher levels of job importance in dental health insurance claim, dental clinic management and assistance to dentists and the overall task(pE0.05). 6. A significant relationship was observed between the need for job training in dental cleaning and preventive dental treatment and work experience. Those with more than 8 years of work experience demonstrated that job training is most needed(pE0.05). 7. The work satisfaction level was higher in the group with more than 8 years of work experience, compared with those in other work experience periods(pE0.05). 8. A positive correlation was seen between the level of importance and the need for job training among three variables.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.531-538
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• 2009

This study examined the musculoskeletal symptom experience rate of some dental clinic workers and the factors influencing musculoskeletal symptoms according to their working environment and health habit. To that end, between March 9 and March 28, 2009, 200 workers at dental clinics in Chungcheong-do were surveyed using the self-administered questionnaire method. The data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. The following conclusion was reached. 1. One-year musculoskeletal symptom experience rates of the subjects were categorized according to pans of the body: shoulders - 60.5%, lower limbs (legs, knees, and feet) - 57.0%, the lumbar region (back and waist) - 56.0%, the neck - 51.0% and the upper limbs (arms, wrists, and fingers) - 32.0%. 2. In general characteristics, a statistically significant difference was found according to gender, age, education, position, and oral health state. In working environments, a statistically significant difference was found according to work experience, the average daily number of patients handled, the average daily working hours, the posture for diagnosis, and satisfaction over work. In health habit, a statistically significant difference was found according to regular exercise, regular examination, and regular eating habit. 3. Factors influencing musculoskeletal symptoms were examined. As a result, influencing the musculoskeletal symptom experience were satisfaction over work among working environment characteristics, and regular exercise among health habit characteristics.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.127-140
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to apply team-based learning to dental hygiene students in theoretical oral prophylaxis class, one of required courses geared toward acquiring professional knowledge on preventive public health, as oral prophylaxis was counted among major duties of dental hygienists. It's ultimately meant to compare the effects of team- based learning and expository instruction on the learning motivation and self-directed learning capabilities of learners in order to discuss the effects of team-based learning in dental hygiene education. Methods : The subjects in this study were 60 dental hygiene students at C college. Out of them, 32 students who were freshmen as of 2007 were grouped into an experimental group, and 28 students who were freshmen as of 2006 were selected as a control group. The experimental group was engaged in team-based learning from August 30 to December 6, 2007, and the control group took expository lessons from August 28 to December 8, 2006. Their learning motivation and self-directed learning capabilities were evaluated by using t-test, paired t-test and GLM analysis. Results : The findings of the study were as follows: 1. The experimental group scored better in learning motivation than the control group after they were engaged in team-based learning (p<.001). According to GLM analysis, there was a significant intergroup gap in learning motivation, and the two groups were statistically significantly different in its subfactors involving attention, relevance and confidence(p<.05). 2. The experimental group excelled the control group at self-directed learning capabilities(p<.05), and the team-based learning had a better effect on self-directed learning capabilities than the expository instruction. Conclusions : Given the findings of the study, the team-based learning was more effective than the expository instruction at boosting the learning motivation and self-directed learning capabilities of the students. Therefore revised teaching methods should be prepared in consideration of the characteristics of dental hygiene courses, and the development of new instructional models and educational programs is required as well.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors of osteoporosis. The data were collected from women who visited Physical Examination Center of a university hospital located in Taejon during the period of September 1997-August 1998. The sample was divided into two groups(the osteoporosis group of 44 cases and the control group of 66 cases). The results were summarized as follows ; 1. Sociodemographic characteristics(education and family income) and BMI showed no significant difference between the osteoporosis group and the control group. 2. There was no significant difference in coffee, unbalanced diet, diet method and meal habit between the osteoporosis group and the control group. 3. The osteoporosis group reported more incidence of operative menopause due to hysterectomy and oophorectomy, but this was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in use of oral pill use, past disease and family history of fracture between the osteoporosis group and the control group, but the odds ratio(OR 3.11, 95% CI : 1.30-7.41) of present illness was statistically significant in the osteoporosis group. 4. There was no significant difference in the reproductive history including number of delivery and abortion and feeding method between the osteoporosis group and the control group. 5. The osteoporosis group showed significant results of lower menopausal age, shorter duration of menstruation and longer duration after menopause compared to the control group. 6. The osteoporosis group reported significantly lower level of physical activity in such variables as work activity and walking time. 7. A logistic analysis showed that shorter period of menstruation, lower level of physical activity, non-alcohol drinking group, and presence of disease were related to the possibility of occurring of osteoporosis.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.647-652
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• 2010

FDI World Dental Federation is organization representing more than one million dentists worldwide with its more than 100 years of long history. Now FDI headquarter is located in Geneve, Switzerland and serves for developing health policy and continuing education programs, speaking as a unified voice for dentistry in international advocacy and supporting member association in oral health promotion activities worldwide. Korean Dental Association has been a member of FDI since 1959 and participated actively in the FDI's worldwide activities. Past Dr. Heung-Ryul Yoon was a president of FDI from 2003 for 2 years and we also have an experience in 1997 of hosting FDI Annual World Dental Congress successively in Seoul. The image of a country reflects the country's culture as well as affects to its economical and social development and it decides the national brand toward the world. Currently, Korean people realized that and put their efforts for promoting diverse aspects of Korea to the world such as multimedia culture called Han-Ryu, electric industry, automotive industry, sports represented by soccer. We have advanced technique and skill in various fields and now it's time to show ourself better to the world. It's same to the dentistry. It's true that Korean dentistry is top-class in the world and the dental industry is prosperous and also has best technique in the world. I think and strongly hope that the 2013 FDI Seoul Annual World Dental Congress would be best opportunity for Korean dentistry and dental industry to promote ourselves and make a big step to the world. Not only for the dentistry, it will also be very good chance to all the Korean people to improve Korean national brand. I believe that we can accomplish if we, all dental societies, stand together and join our effort to use this good chance the best. I know we can make it.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2020

Background: In Korea, laws for many medical technicians were revised in the Enforcement Decree of the Medical Technicians Act (MTA), which was announced on December 2018, whereas those related to dental hygienists remained unchanged. This study aimed to determine the awareness and opinions of dental hygienists regarding MTA. Methods: Dental hygienist were recruited as participants via convenient sampling in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, and Chungcheong-do; data from 291 self-reported questionnaire responses were used for the final analysis. We investigated the participants' general characteristics, awareness, and request for the amendment of the MTA. The compliance with the work scope specified in the MTA and level of demand for revision of the MTA were analyzed by independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance. For all statistical analyses, the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: For the 2018 MTA revision, 99 (34.02%) knew that dental treatment assistance and surgery assistance were excluded, whereas 192 (65.98%) did not know. The item "The current medical technician law must be revised" was scored 4.13±0.80 out of 5 points, and significant differences were identified according to the education level, career, and position (p<0.05). The item "It is necessary to institutionalize the expanded work scope beyond the work scope of dental hygienists specified in the MTA" was scored 4.02±1.04 out of 5 points, and significant differences were identified according to age (p<0.05). Conclusion: The participants wanted the MTA to be revised to reflect the real-world work performed by dental hygienists in the dental clinical field. The legal system must ensure the legal protection of the work area of the dental hygienist as an oral health professional, and recognize the legal work scope of the dental hygienist.