Current education status of the community dental hygiene practice

지역사회치위생학 현장(보건소)실습 실태

Objectives: This study was obtained to identify current education status of the community dental hygiene practice. Methods: It was designed cross section and self-reported on-line questionnaire(Survey monkey). It was performed probability sampling by targeting 82 dental hygiene schools(each one faculty member) in charge of community dental hygiene curriculum and 254 community health centers's community dental hygienists whom was working at oral health section. The response rate was 60% and 53%, respectively. The questionnaire consisted of time, duration, practice group, evaluation method, and practice contents including 63 learning objectives of dental hygiene. Results: Nearly half of these schools conduct such community field work practice in the spring semester of the junior year. This practice was mainly progressed based on average 4 students as one team per each one school for 7-8 hours a day during the period of more than 5 weeks(p<0.05). However, in case of both school and community health center, almost half of feedback after practice was not achieved and there was a difference in needs for practice education between schools and community health center. Conclusions: We should be considered that a sufficient consultation for the practice environment and its contents between schools and community health centers. It was considered that development of a standardized practice manual reflecting such requirement.