• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.606-619
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was to examine the state of customized visiting oral health programs in a bid to help facilitate the unified operation of the programs and the development of required guidelines. Methods : The subjects in this study were 49 dental hygienists who were professionals responsible for customized visiting health care programs across the nation. Results : 1. Regarding the form of employment of the dental hygienists were investigated many contract and daily workers. 2. As to the possession of equipment necessary for visiting oral health programs, denture cleaners(12.2%) were most widely possessed in some regions, followed by mobile scalers(10.2%) and mobile suctions(8.2%). In terms of expendable devices and materials, dental mirrors, pincettes and explorers were the most widely possessed dental checkup devices, and the most widely possessed oral hygiene supplies were toothbrushes, interdental brushes and denture cleaners. Those devices and materials were in more possession than the other types of devices and materials. The most widely possessed equipment for educational purpose was laptop computers, followed by beam projectors and screens. The most widely possessed teaching materials were dentiform, followed by CD-ROMs. 3. Those whom they visited the most for oral health care service were elderly people, followed by the disabled and patients with chronic diseases. The dental hygienists who went out to visit those people outnumbered the others who stayed at public health centers. Concerning the types of visiting oral health care service, the most prevalent service provided to the elderly included denture cleaning/management, oral massage and preventive treatment against dental caries. The most dominant service provided to the disabled involved education of the oral health care act, preventive treatment against dental caries and toothbrushing by professionals. The most common service offered to patients with chronic diseases was education of the oral health care act and oral health education. The dental hygienists paid a visit to a mean of 5.8 households a day. The average weekly number of households cared by the dental hygienists was 27.3. It took a mean of 37.1 minutes for them to take care of each household. 4. As for satisfaction level with the implementation of the visiting oral health programs, they expressed the greatest satisfaction at teamwork with professionals($3.56{\pm}0.94$), followed by the professionalism of their work($3.21{\pm}0.94$) and workload($3.08{\pm}0.94$). Their satisfaction level with the work conditions required for creative job performance($2.75{\pm}0.98$) and partnership with other institutions($2.64{\pm}1.03$) was below 3.0. In regard to the impact of their characteristics, marital status made a statistically significant difference to satisfaction level with workload. The unmarried dental hygienists were more pleased with their workload than the married ones(p<0.05). 5. As to needs for education for professionalism improvement, they asked for education about visiting oral health care skills the most, followed by education about oral health care for patients with chronic diseases, education of planning/evaluation and education of oral health care for the disabled. Conclusions : The top priority for the vitalization of the programs was the procurement of budget, followed by the procurement of equipment and educational media and the procurement of human resources.

• 대한치과기공학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.417-433
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• 2010

Purpose: This study evaluated the manpower planning of dental technicians. Methods: Methods : Survey was conducted regarding subject's general characteristics, characteristics of dental technician's occupational view and working conditions, and reason to enter into branches of the public health enter. The survey sample consisted of 323 dental technicians (221 male/ 102 female). Survey was conducted for one month from August 1 to September 1 in 2010. Following results were obtained. Results: 1. Regarding general characteristics of the subjects, there was a slight male predilection with 68.4%. Subjects in their 40s occupied the highest proportion of 32.2%. Majority of subjects worked in the big cities (71.5%). Favored working places were dental laboratory (57.6%) and dental hospital or dental clinic (19.5%). Although no position is available in the public sector such as public health center or health care civil servant, 9.3% preferred working in the public health center. Public sector is more favored than 2-year technical colleges or dental supply and equipment companies. In respect to education, 57% of the subjects graduated college. 67.8% were married. Subjects who specialize in the porcelain or all-ceramic were 57.9%. With regard to current position, head of the dental laboratory was most common. 2. Following occupation characteristics were found. Economic reason took the highest proportion when deciding their occupation (39.9%) followed by gaining social experience (36.5%). Majority of the subjects (76.5%) wanted to work as dental technicians until their retirement. 71.5% pursuit to become a manager of the dental laboratory. 76.1% agreed on opening a dental technician position in the public health center. Regarding an authority to lead developing the dental technician position in the public sector, majority of the subject chose ministry of health and welfare (35.6%) and Korean dental technologist association (34.7%). Employment (average, 30%) and turnover rate (average, 36.5%) of dental technology college graduates ranged from 40% to 60%. Most important factors for the employment were practical experience (41.2%) and competency (34.4%). With regard to job satisfaction, so-so as 46.7% and satisfactory was 42.7% 3. In respect to the reason for opening a position in the public health center, 'It is needed to continue denture rogram for elderly patients' obtained the highest score (4.14 point). 'Institutional devices are required to open a position for dental technicians as a public healthcare provider' received high score (4.11 point). 4. Concerning the working conditions, 'professional knowledge is required' received the highest score (4.23) followed by 'too short maternity and parental leave' (4.21). 5. Relationship between general characteristics of the subjects and favor of working in the public health center was investigated. Significant differences were found according to the current and favored working area, favored occupation, education level, marital status, and specialty. Working in the public health center was favored by following subjects: working in mid- or small-sized cities (4.16 point, p<0.05); PhD degree-holder (4.59 point, p<0.01). 6. Among general characteristics of the subjects, significant difference of working conditions was found in the following factors: gender; working areas; favored working areas; favored working positions, and education level. Majority of subjects favored working in big cities and currently work in big cities although satisfaction was comparatively low (3.75 score). 7. Future plan to work in public health center was evaluated according to occupational characteristics. Subject's intention to work in the public healthcare center was significantly affected by opening of dental technician position, leading authority, average turnover rate, and factors affecting employment. Working in the public health care center was favored by the following subjects: Dental technicians who actively supported opening of the dental technician position (4.34 point, p<0.001); subjects who thought the Korean dental technologist association is responsible for the opening of positions in the public sector (4.26 point, p<0.001); and subjects who thought that attitude and character are important for the employment (p<0.001). 8. Concerning difference of working conditions according to the occupational characteristics, significant difference was demonstrated by factors such as a reason to choose to be a dental technician, work plan, pursuing position, responsible authority, average employment rate, and job satisfaction. High standard of working conditions was required in subjects who selected to be a dental technician for the leisure time after work (s.05 point, p<0.01), who planted to work until their marriage (4.25 point, p<0.001), and who pursuit to be a manager (3.98, p<0.05). 9. In respect to influence of general characteristics on the advancement to public health centers, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.068 and age affected the working condition with significant difference according to the pvalue. 10. Regarding influence of general characteristics on the advancement to public health centers, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.335 and work plan, opening of dental technician position in the public sector, and responsible authority had significant influence over the subject's intention to work in the public health center according to the p-value. 11. With regard to the influence of general characteristics on the advancement to public health centers, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.091 and reason to choose to be a dental technician, work plan, and responsible authority significantly affected subject's working conditions. Conclusion: Korean society is becoming a super-aged society according to several statistics. As aged population is rapidly increasing, national health insurance plans to cover denture for senior citizen over 75 years old from 2012. Therefore, dental technicians are urgently needed in the public health centers all over the nation. Many subjects in this study planed to work until their retirement and recognized dental technician's expertise. Ministry of health and welfare and Korean dental technologist association should co-operate each other to prepare foundation and institutional devices for dental technicians to advance into the public health center. This will improve oral health of the population. This study showed urgency of medical facilities and services which meets increasing number of aged population and welfare of the population.