Abstract
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.