A Study on Dental Hygienists' Needs for Specialized Education in Health Promotion Projects

보건분야 치과위생사들의 건강증진사업을 위한 전문교육 필요도 조사

The purpose of this study was to analyze dental hygienists' opinions on health promotion projects in public health and their needs for specialized education in the projects, so that it could help prepare specialized education program required for health promotion projects in the future. To meet the goals, total 364 dental hygienists working in public health were asked to join a questionnaire survey via e-mail in September 2007 for data analysis. As a result, this analysis came to the following conclusions: First, it was found that 29.9% of total respondents took in charge of health promotion projects, and 26.9% respondents considered it very necessary to be responsible for the health promotion projects(56.0% considered it necessary). Almost half respondents considered nonsmoking assistance most desirable task(48.4%) and foremost demanded(50.5%) out of all current health promotion projects, 39.8% respondents answered that they could carry on health promotion task, if assigned, after completing occupational training course. Second, it was found that 39.3% respondents acquired other licenses and qualifications than certificate of registered dental hygienist, and their medical licenses or qualifications included certificate of nursing assistant(18.7%) and certificate of social worker(11.8%) by category. Third, in terms of opinions on possible ways to facilitate health promotion projects, it was found that over half respondents considered it recommended to step up specialized education(56.9%) and prepare legal basis and administrative system(53.6%). Notably, 90.7% respondents considered it necessary to step up specialized education in health promotion. Fourth, in terms of opinions on participation in health promotion projects, it was found that almost half respondents(49.7%) considered it necessary and very positive for extending dental hygienists' works in the future. Moreover, in terms of reasons for sum positive answers, it was found that many respondents considered it helpful for appointment(41.8%) and contributing to capability development and job satisfaction(44.5%). In terms of opinions that sud, participation would be unnecessary, 29.7% respondents thought that nothing would be changed in their dental health projects even with reduced number of public health dentists, and 31.3% respondents thought that dental hygienists are professional manpower responsible only for dental health works. Finally, in terms of on-the-job training(OJT) related to health promotion, it was found that 92.9% respondents desired for OJT. In terms of experiences in OJT, 79.9% respondents answered that they never joined OJT course. In other words, only 20.1% respondents joined OJT courses for health promotion task, such as nonsmoking assistance(8.8%), health promotion FMTP training(2.2%), exercises(1.4%) and nutrition(0.6%).