• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2015

This study studied samples taken off surfaces at three sites (Unit chairs, light handles, cuspidors) of 19 dental hospitals and 28 clinics located in Gyeonggi-do and Incheon, South Korea. The bacterial contamination levels of surfaces were $44.82{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ in cuspidors, higher than in unit chairs ($5.47{\times}10^3CFU/mL$) and light handles ($16.28{\times}10^3CFU/mL$). The values were statistically higher at dental hospitals than at dental clinics, the greater number of patients being associated with the higher bacterial cell count in the cuspidors. The results of identifying the strains isolated purely from surfaces at dental clinic showed Gram positive 47.3% and Gram negative 52.7%. Among Gram positive, the most numberous bacteria were Micrococcus luteus (10.9%), Bacillus pumilus (3.6%), and Staphylococcus aureus (3.6%). Among Gram negative, the most numberous bacteria were Acinetobacter ursingii (5.5%), Brevundimonas diminuta (4.5%), Chryseobacterium (Flavo.) indologenes (CDC IIb) (4.5%), and Methylobacterium sp. (4.5%). This study measures the level of bacterial contamination and identifies the strains isolated in dental clinics. It recognizes the importance of infection control, and the results of the study may be considered as the basis for establishing specific plans for prevention of infection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2002

This study is aimed at offering basic data about prevention of Hepatitis B virus and infection control to dental hygiene students who will work mostly at dental offices which are characteristically exposed to a high risk of HBV infection. For this study, surveyed were 188 sophomores and juniors of the dental hygiene department who volunteered to undergo the tests of HBsAg and HBsAb. The examination of the blood collected from the samples and analysis of their perception about hygiene resulted in following conclusion: Positive HBsAg Four was found in 4 testees(2.1%) while 118(62.8%) revealed positive HBsAb. Juniors showed higher positive rate in HBsAg whereas sophomores had higher positive rate in HBsAb. But such difference has statistically no significance. Generally, students seemed to pay little attention to HBV, judging from the survey of their perception about the present state of HBsAg and HBsAb(p>0.05), conduct of infection(p<0.05), completion of 3 requested vaccinations(p>0.05), and formation of antibody(p>0.05). With regard to the infection routes of HBV, most students(92.4%) replied "through blood", which is statistically insignificant, though. Next ratio goes to the reply "through contaminated injectors". This reply came more from sophomores than from juniors, a difference which is statistically significant(p<0.05). The lowest rate of possible infection(29.2%) was thought to be "through breast-feeding of a positive mother"(p<0.05). In general, it turned out that sophomores had more knowledge about the infection routes of HBV than juniors. In terms of clinical history among family members, 6(3.1%) reported that some of their family members are currently suffering from a liver complaint, 3(1.6%) replied their family members were once afflicted, and 4(2.1%) said their members died of hepatitis. Except 10(4.7%), all the surveyees replied that their states of health are better than normal. Generally, sophomores are healthier than juniors except for the very health case, a difference which is statistically of no value.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the quality of life of high schoolers related to oral health. The subjects in this study were 287 high school students, on whom a survey was conducted. After the collected data were analyzed, the following findings were given: 1. As for self-perceived oral health state, 34.8 percent of the high schoolers investigated found themselves to be in a good oral health, and 65.2 percent didn't. In regard to concern for oral health, 15.7 percent showed a lot of interest, and 52.6 percent were a little interested. 31.7 percent had no interest in that. 2. Out of the oral health impact profile (OHIP) areas, they scored highest on the area of physical pain(2.24) and lowest on the area of social disadvantage(1.35). The overall oral health impact profile was 1.66. 3. Concerning relationship between general characteristics and the OHIP areas, the high school boys got significantly higher scores on the area of social disadvantage, and those who had ever visited dentist's offices scored statistically significantly higher on the areas of physical pain and mental insecurity. 4. Regarding connections between concern for oral health and the OHIP areas, those who were very interested in oral health got statistically significantly higher scores on every area. 5. As to the correlation among the OHIP areas, there was a statistically significantly positive correlation among all the areas.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2003

As a basic research material to make more efficient healthcare and health promotion for dental hygienists, this study intends to determine which factors may affect their awareness of occupational diseases. For this sake, this study attempted to investigate into a variety of literatures and data, and applied a questionnaire survey to 160 dental hygienists for about 5 months(from June to October 2003), who were all employed in domestic dental clinics or offices. As a result of analysis, this study can be concluded as follows: (1) The result of analyzing how dental hygienists recognized their occupational diseases showed that 'stiffness in muscle, neck or shoulder due to intensive use of specific physical regions' and 'stress resulting from the attributes of each task' reached the highest awareness(90.6%) of all, which was followed by 'lower eyesight due to detailed or even sophisticated tasks for many hours(65%)' and 'symptoms of ruptured disk due to standing tasks as dental hygienists do for many hours(62.5%).' (2) The result of analyzing how dental hygienists recognize their occupational diseases showed that their awareness averaged 7.28 points out of 14 points, which implies that their awareness of occupational diseases is not very high. Meanwhile, the result of examining how they recognize detrimental or harmful properties of given materials against human body showed that a majority of total respondents(74.4%) regarded given materials as detrimental to human body. (3) The result of examining how dental hygienists recognize their occupational diseases showed that a majority of total respondents(91.9%) identified their own occupational diseases. Many of total respondents(41.9%) pointed out that environmental improvement around workshop in each clinic or office should be foremost prerequisite to health and welfare for dental hygienists. Next, 34.4% of total respondents pointed out the necessity to perform in-house health diagnosis and examination on a regular basis, and 13.1% of total respondents thought it necessary to carry on healthcare education into harmful properties in the aspect of dental materiology, respectively.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.251-256
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine what induced dental hygienists to take up another employment and whether their job satisfaction had anything to do with it in an attempt to help curtail their turnover rate. The subjects in this study were approximately 200 dental hygienists who worked in dental institutions. A survey was conducted from July 24 through September 24, 2006, by using structured, self-administered questionnaires. For data analysis, SPSS 11.5 program was employed to see if their turnover experience was linked to their general characteristics, why they took up another employment, how long they wanted to do that and how their job satisfaction was related to that. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. In regard to turnover experience by age, marital status and career, those who had ever changed their employment accounted for 36.2 percent of the age group from 24 to 26, 83.0 percent of the unmarried ones and 50.0 percent of those whose career was less than one to three years (p < 0.001). By monthly mean income, 50.0 percent of the dental hygienists whose monthly mean income ranged from 1.0 to 1.29 million won had that experience(p < 0.05). The gap between these groups and the others was statistically significant. 2. As for the reason of turnover, working environments were cited most often(28.1%), followed by possibilities(18.0%), relationship with supervisors and colleagues(12.4%), and compensation(4.5%). 3. Concerning a preferred new workplace, 66.2 percent of the dental hygienists who worked in dentist's offices hoped to be newly hired by public dental clinics(p < 0.001). By education, 64.3 percent of the college-educated dental hygienists wanted to work at public dental clinics as well(p < 0.01). 4. The change of employment was under the greatest influence of the possibilities of workplace, followed by workload, pay and relationship with colleagues. All the factors had a negative impact on their turnover. Those who were less satisfied sought new employment more often, and job satisfaction made a statistically significant difference to that. The job satisfaction factors made a prediction of their turnover intention ($R^2=.254$).

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.507-511
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to analyze the dental service system in correctional institutions and 10 find the factors for improving inmates' oral health. This study is comprised of document review, telephone and questionnaire survey. The subjects of questionnaire survey are public health dentists and doctors in correctional institutions. They responded to questionnaire and the survey was collected from previous research and selected information about the dental service system. The findings of the study were as follow : Documentary survey 1. According to 2004's study, there are 42 dental offices in 46 all correctional institutions. 2. Criminals who took an health examination occupied 69.0% when committed to a jail in 2002's study. Majorities of them(81.5%) responded that they didn't take any oral examination. Telephone & Questionnaire survey 1. Full-time public health dentists are 26 in 2009. There is no correctional institution having oral health providers in 26 correctional institutions surveyed. 2 About 10 patients use the dental services in a day. Part-time dentists visit 4 times a month as average in 80% of institutions. 40% of institutions responded dental treatments can't be progressed conveniently because of the lack of oral health providers. 3. 80% of respondents answered that it is hard to cure prisoners, and that's because they are forbidden to get out of the institutions. 4. Only 20% of correctional institutions offered the oral hygiene instructions. There is no regular oral hygiene education for all inmates. 5. They need to increase the number of oral health providers.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.121-127
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• 2009

A comparative analysis was conducted through this study on tooth brushing and a use of auxiliary oral hygiene devices for oral hygiene for 287 S Health College students some of whom major dental hygiene and some of whom don't relate to the department, and then has drawn out the results as below. 1. Relating to the frequency of tooth brushing, 2-3 times a day was the utmost case in both departments(p < 0.05). 2. In use of toothbrush bristle, the students of dental hygiene department used medium bristle(51.2%), while the student of other department used soft bristle(51.5%)(p > 0.05). 3. In the term of tooth brush used, 2~5 months was the utmost case in both departments(p > 0.05). 4. In tooth- brushing method, all the student of both departments said they knew how to do it(p > 0.05). 5. In the acquisition of tooth brushing methods, the students of dental hygiene acquired it from dentistry 44.4%, and the students of other department from TV or Radio 47.5% (p > 0.05)which was a quite high rate. 6. In reference to recognition level on auxiliary oral hygiene devices, dental hygiene students said Yes 79.8%, and the other side students said No 63.9%(p < 0.05). In reuse of auxiliary oral hygiene devices, a great number of students of both departments said No (p < 0.05). 8. In reference to the chance to use auxiliary oral hygiene devices, 58.1% of dental hygiene students chose them with their own judgement, and 37.8% of other department students recommended by dentist's offices(p < 0.05). 9. Relating to the reason for not using auxiliary oral hygiene devices, 38.9% of the dental hygiene students said it's bothersome, and 56.7% of the other department students said they didn't know about these things(p < 0.05). 10. In the recognition level of dental floss, in knowing the way to use it, whether or not of using it, the students of both department showed a significant difference (p < 0.05). 11. In the recognition level of floss holder and the yes or not of using it, there was an insignificant difference(p > 0.05), while in understanding of it, there was a significant difference(p < 0.05). 12. Relating to the recognition level of electric tooth brush, yes or no of using it, there wasn't a significant difference(p > 0.05). 13. In the cognition level of rubber stimulator, yes or no of using it, there wasn't much difference, while in understanding to use it, there was a significant difference(p < 0.05). 14. In the understanding level of water pik, yes or not of using it, there wasn't a great deal of difference(p < 0.05), but in inquiry of whether or not of using it, there was no difference (p > 0.05), 15. In the understanding level of tongue scraper, whether or not of using it, there wasn't much difference(p > 0.05), but in understanding to use it, there was a great deal of difference(p < 0.05). 16. In the recognition of garglin, understanding of it, and whether or not of using it, the two departments didn't show a significant difference(p < 0.05).

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.69-78
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the basic grounds for the policies of health promotion on the elderly by analyzing lifestyle. Methods: This study recruited 500 seniors aged over 65 years participating in exercise programs for the elderly provided by four branch offices of NHIC in Daegu. Results: 'Ideal type' was a group thinking that exercise programs for the elderly made their life healthy and energetic and living a happy life and 'social type' was a group answering that they helped to manage their health condition and to relieve stress and activated relationship with family members and friends to gain self-confidence. ‘Passive type’ and 'lethargic type’ said that the programs did not influence their life overall. Conclusion: Entrance into an aging society has changed values of the elderly. Their lifestyle becomes various and the effect of exercise programs for the elderly was also different according their lifestyle. Therefore, exercise programs considering lifestyles of the elderly will maximize their effect.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2009

The objective of this study is to find the improvement in the dental health care of the children through oral hygiene education and TBI. In Taebaek public health care center, an oral hygiene education, TBI and fluoride gel application was conducted 2 times for about 631 preschool children living in Taebaek City. The ages of preschool children were from 4 to 7. To examine the changes, a questionnaire was written and distributed for the collecting the results after the education of the second half for children, parents and teachers. As a result, the children showed better understanding of the caries through oral hygiene education and reduction of fright and fears for dental treatment. Many children learned how to brush and there was a significant increase in the number of brushing. Children learned to be able to classify good food and bad food for teeth and showed the change in eating habits although in small part through the oral hygiene education. Through this study, it is judged that the oral hygiene education of the preschool children has effectiveness and it is in need for the expansion of oral hygiene education in homes, kindergartens and dental offices.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2007

This study is aimed at providing basic data for measures to prevent dental hygienists who are highly exposed to hepatitis-B virus due to their characteristic working conditions from being infected of it. In order to determine their perception and the extent of their exposure to the risk of infection with hepatitis-B virus, a survey was conducted with questionnaires distributed to 354 dental hygienists who are working at dental offices in Seoul. Gyeongi and Jeolla provincial areas. From the survey, following conclusions could be drawn: 1. Sixty three point seven to 100 percent of them are found to have been vaccinated against hepatitis-B virus as is generally expected from their working environment. 2. Their general characters are found to be statistically significant in terms of vaccinating point of time among those who have been vaccinated. Most respondents are either vaccinated one year or 5 years ago. The completion of 3 requested vaccinations lies in the level of 64.3%~100% depending on the general characters. By age, the best result comes from the age group of 25~29, followed by the groups older than 30 and 20-24 in order (p < 0.05). Formation of antibody belongs to the level of 45%~100% generally. But statistically significant of them is the extremely unhealthy state with 100%, followed by normal, generally healthy, very healthy and not healthy in sequence (p < 0.05). 3. In terms of family's clinical history, it is known that the older (p < 0.01), the more unhealthy (p < 0.01) and the married (p < 0.01), the more possibility of having anamnesis of hepatitis-B virus infection. 4. The level of knowledge about Hepatitis-B virus is shown to be in the extent of 4.39~5.01 out of maximum 8 points in general terms. 5. It is revealed that there are high chances for dental hygienists to get spattered with body matters of patients like blood or sputum on their faces in general characters (87.%~100%). 6. A high rate (75%~100%) of respondents has experienced being shot by needles. The older(p < 0.05) and the longer(p < 0.05) their career, the higher the rate becomes.