Abstract
Background: This study aimed to create and present content that can be used in the dental hygiene ethics process to help dental hygiene students develop desirable work ethics and ethical values. Methods: In order to operate the dental hygiene ethics course in all academic systems, one three-year dental hygiene professor and one four-year dental hygiene professor participated in setting core competencies and learning goals for the dental hygiene ethics course. The class consisted of two credits, two hours of theoretical classes, and class activity sheets developed according to the learning contents and learning topics for each week that can be operated for 15 weeks. Results: The contents of the dental hygiene ethics subject were developed to be conducted as theoretical education and case-oriented discussion classes. The 15-week class consisted of a theory lecture on dental hygiene work ethics (eight weeks), discussions and presentations for ethical decisions based on actual cases related to dental hygiene ethics (four weeks), and the design and presentation of individual professional mission statements and codes of conduct (three weeks). The class data for each week consisted of four stages: "Learning goal-thinking," "open-thinking," "learning content-thinking," and "according to learning goal." Conclusions: In order to establish desirable workplace ethics and ethical values for dental hygiene students, it is necessary to approach education in a way that values understanding and application of dental hygiene practices, legal and ethical standards, ethical decision-making models, and ethical principles.
