• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.348-354
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to provide a basic data for developing and solutions to prevent verbal abuse and to determine the actual overall verbal abuse experience of dental hygienist. Participants were 289 dental hygienists who work in dental hospitals and clinics. The results of this study, 177 dental hygienists experienced verbal abuse. Perpetrators of verbal abuse experience became patient (67.9%), dentist (21.1%). The most common reason for verbal abuse were 'anger about the dental service' (17.0%), 'anger about physical and emotional suffering' (14.1%), 'consider the dental hygienists as subordinate not as colleague or practitioner' (12.6%). The types of verbal abuse were 'taking down' (21.7%), 'yelling' (16.3%), 'being sarcastic' (11.3%). The types of coping with verbal abuse were many aspects of passive coping in order of 'suppress' (12.3%), 'ignore' (8.2%). The result of verbal abuse experience according to working characteristics was significant different to clinical career, main duty, position. The result of self-esteem and job satisfaction according to verbal abuse experience, dental hygienist who had experienced verbal abuse was lower in job satisfaction. Therefore, it should be recognized that experience of verbal abuse in dental hygienist was serious and need to develop prevention programs and research.