• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.211-218
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine preference for dental hygienists. The subjects in this study were 228 employees in general hospitals located in the region of Busan, on whom a survey was conducted in May and June, 2009. The findings of the study were as follows: As for top priority of dental hygienists' duties, providing assistance for dentist treatment ranked first(28.2%), followed by scaling(23.2%) and preventive duties(20.6%). Concerning a favorable image of a dental hygienist, a cheerful look was most preferred(61.4%), followed by a clean-cut look (32.9%), a refined look (3.5%) and an intellectual look (2.2%). Among the subjects, married respondents exhibited a greater liking for a cheerful look, and the gap between them and the unmarried subjects was statistically significant($x^2=8.11$, p<.05). In terms of uniform preference, a two-piece suit with pants was most favored(76.3%). Female respondents showed a greater preference for a two-piece suit with pants, and the gap between them and the male respondents was statistically significant($x^2=41.09$, p<.001). As for major qualifications, professional knowledge was most valued (49.1%), followed by integrity/responsibility(23.2%), friendliness(22.4%), and a great personality/being well-cultivated(5.3%). Employees who were in their 40s and up placed more importance on integrity and responsibility, and the gap between them and the others was statistically significant($x^2=20.62$, p<.01).

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to provide practical information regarding career exploration to dental hygiene students. This study interviewed 15 senior dental hygienists (graduates of Y University Dental Hygiene program) who have worked in non-clinical fields for about three months from January 14, 2014 to April 28. The most frequently mentioned pieces of information that the senior dental hygienists wanted to convey to dental hygiene students were as followed. Contrary to popular belief, clinical experience was also required in non-clinical fields as the importance of clinical experience was quite often and widely emphasized and applied in such fields. High academic excellence and clinical performance were expected of junior dental hygienists and the senior dental hygienists expressed their hope for their juniors to pioneer new fields and areas of work that a dental hygienist can do. Most of the senior dental hygienists pointed out that to develop technical tools for career exploration as early as possible, such as during undergraduate years and to think about which career path to take, whether it is clinical or academic were significantly important factors for desirable career outcomes. Based on the results of this study, undergraduate dental hygiene students should be provided with opportunities to consider and explore various career paths during their undergraduate years and to communicate with their seniors for hands-on experience-based advices. This would in turn broaden each student's perspective beyond their knowledge or thought about the professional filed of dental hygiene. It was found that the majority of the senior dental hygienists agreed that their clinical experience was the source of their self-competence as a dental hygienist. Our study could be utilized as a valuable resource for future dental hygienists who wish to work in non-clinical fields.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.682-688
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• 2012

This study investigates the stressors of dental hygienists and student hygienists during the bedside training by the medical center type. The survey is based on some dental hygienists who are working for dental college hospitals, general hospitals, dental hospitals and dental clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi area which the Clinical Practice of dental hygienics students is under way in. Included are the students who are studying dental hygienics at Kyungbok University and have taken the bedside training in dental college hospitals, general hospitals, dental hospitals and dental clinics. A statistical analysis shows the following results using SPSS program. By medical center type, dental hygienists described the clinical practice of students as relatively satisfying. It also found that there is a positive correlation between stress zones, and they feel most stressed in the "Role and Activity" zone. Student hygienists felt relatively satisfied with the bedside training, and there is a positive correlation between stress zones except "Practice". It found students, who have taken the bedside training in all types of medical centers except dental clinics, felt most stressed in "Environment". It also found that students who have taken the bedside training in dental clinics felt most stressed in "Role and Activity". In conclusion, most of the dental hygienists are satisfied with students' clinical practice by pattern of hospital. Positive correlation was shown between stress factors. Behavior and attitude and ideal and value are high in stress in college dental hospitals, role and activity and treatment fields are high in stress in dental hospital, and interpersonal relationships are high in stress in dental clinics.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.386-394
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate how employed dental hygienists (graduates) and alumni are aware of dental health insurance and how to organize their classes for running efficient dental health insurance courses, and therefore to suggest opinions on the introduction of professional dental hygienist qualifications. The analyses was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics 24.0. Sixty-nine students (56.1%) preferred one semester dental health insurance course as two semester courses and 63 students (51.2%) preferred theoretical course as practical course. Ninety-six (78%) students preferred dental health insurance claimants as others for their most necessary certification. Ninety-three dentists (75.6%) thought of the dental hygienist as the appropriate occupation for dental health insurance claims. The correlation coefficient was significant at the 0.01 level (both sides) and all showed a positive correlation. The effect of subjective understanding of dental health insurance and the perception of dental health insurance claim on students' intention to complete those courses explained 32% of the response, and the effect of the intention to complete those courses on the willingness to earn a certificate explained 22.3%. This study reveals the willingness of students to complete those courses to acquire qualifications in order to achieve a competitive advantage in employment, and suggests the necessity of institutional improvements such as changing the method of dental insurance education, varying the class time distribution, and introducing dental health insurance professional dental hygienist qualification in the country.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2011

This paper aims to comprehend the career plan and job view of the students of Dept. of Dental Hygiene who are expected to graduate with a bachelor of science degree, explain the characteristics of their jobs after graduation, compare them with the graduates of associate of science degree and finally give a basic data necessary for developing careers in the future. From the survey of 184 would-be graduates of Departments of Dental Hygiene at 6 universities that produce dental hygiene graduates in 2011 and 251 would-be graduates with a A.S. degree of Dept. of Dental Hygiene, whose course takes 3 years, this paper reaches the conclusion below. More graduates with B.S. degree in dental hygiene than those with a A.S. degree want to attend graduate school after graduation. It is found that most of the graduates with B.S. degree in dental hygiene wanted to work as a dental hygienist until they reach retirement age after getting a job. They favor dental hospitals, which give them a higher salary and ensure them of retirement age. They have a lower-esteemed job view: they think that their jobs are socially lower regarded, compared with graduates with a A.S. degree. It is found that those who wish to attend graduate school have lower job satisfaction than those who want to get a job after graduation. It is necessary for the educational institutes of dental hygiene to teach their graduates have a positive attitude their job and for the association to make an active effort to increase the job satisfaction of dental hygiene students as well as dental hygienists by enhancing social recognition of a dental hygiene.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.279-286
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• 2009

This research targeted 253 dental hygienists who are working in parts of the South Gyeongnam Province to identify their Degree of Recognition on the Elderly Long-term Care Insurance System executed on July 1,2008 according to their awareness. The following conclusions were obtained. 1. Experience in managing elderly patients' oral cavity and specialized education on the elderly patients while studying dental hygiene (department) manifested statically significant difference with the appropriate age of the Long-term care worker(p<0.01, p<0.05). Moreover, there was significant difference in the level of understanding on the Elderly Long-term Care Insurance System depending on the experience of volunteering and on whether they got specialized education on the elderly patients while working(p<0.01). 2. There was significant difference in the awareness of the Elderly Long-term Care Insurance System following interest in the health of the elderly patients' oral cavity(p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001).

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of job satisfaction and self-esteem of dental hygienists and nurse's aides. Data were obtained from 327 dental hygienists and nurse's aides who were working at dental clinics, hospitals located in Seoul city. The results, derived from using the SPSS 10.0, were as follows: (1) The level of job satisfaction was 3.02 point, the level of self-esteem was 3.41 point. (2) Service organization and types of occupation have influenced meaningfully on job satisfaction. Hospitals(3.14) are higher than dental clinics(3.0), dental hygienists(3.14) are higher than nurse's aides(2.92). (3) Service organization and types of occupation have influenced meaningfully on self-esteem. Hospitals(3.55) are higher than dental clinics(3.39), dental hygienists(3.52) are higher than nurse's aides(3.31). (4) The correlation between job satisfaction and self-esteem of dentistry employee showed statistically significant correlation.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.39-52
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• 2024

Background: Dental hygienists provide direct dental care in the closest proximity to the patient, and each practice requires a high level of focus and concentration. These skills are an important human resource that can impact the quality of dental care services. Since more than half of dental clinics provide as overtime work in addition to regular hours, this study aims to determine the association between working overtime and job performance for dental hygienists. Methods: The study was conducted using a combination of online and in-person surveys via Google Forms among 131 employed dental hygienists. The survey consisted of 7 questions on demographic and work characteristics, 16 questions on characteristics related to overtime and the effect of overtime on job security, health, and life, and 10 questions on job performance, for a total of 33 questions. Chi-square analysis and independent samples t-test were used to identify the characteristics of demographic and work characteristics, and descriptive statistics analysis was used for the characteristics of overtime. Independent samples t-test was used to test the difference in the mean of job performance according to whether or not they worked overtime, and linear regression analysis was used to show the association of working overtime and job performance. Results: The study found that 71% of dental clinics worked overtime. The average number of overtime per week was once (78.5%), and the most common problems with overtime were fatigue (52.7%) and lack of personal and leisure time (41.9%). The appropriate number of overtime per week considered by dental hygienists was once a week, which was confirmed to be 94.6%. When comparing job performance by overtime status, those who worked overtime were 3.38 points higher than those who did not (35.45 vs. 32.07). Multiple linear regression analysis of the association of working overtime night and job performance showed that a one-unit increase in worked overtime was associated with a statistically significant increase in job performance of about 3.1 (p<0.01). Conclusion: Working overtime was found to have a positive effect on job performance among dental hygienists. Therefore, as a way to improve the working environment, providing appropriate compensation or welfare for overtime can reduce the negative aspects of overtime and turn it into a positive influence on job performance. This could ultimately raise awareness of the dental hygienist as a professional and effect the efficiency of dental care services.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.357-366
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of dental hygienist job according to judgment standard of medical practice in medical law. In this study, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey to evaluate the validity of dental hygienist job for 12 professors of dental college in Gangneung-Wonju National University from November 10 to 20, 2017. We investigated whether the dental hygienist job conforms to the three criteria of medical practice such as disease prevention and treatment, patient care, and health hazard. The response rates were scored and classified into four categories according to the final score. As a result of this study, dental hygienist job are classified into four categories according to judgment standard of medical practice. The higher the level of the category, the higher the degree of difficulty, and the higher the level of expertise and skills required. More than 50% of respondents answered that measuring the gingival pocket, bleeding on probing, professional tooth cleaning, oral health education, counseling after dental treatment are all three criteria for medical treatment. And these were classified into Level 4 group which requires the difficulty and expertise in the final score 4.3. It is necessary to develop and utilize standardized guidelines on the level of knowledge, education, and qualification standards required for dental practice in order to effectively allocate work among the dental personnel while ensuring the health rights of patients in the dental clinic field in Korea. In addition, there is a need to evaluate the various aspects of cost effectiveness, dental health service productivity, and health promotion contribution to dental hygienist jobs, And based on this evidence, it is necessary to continue to expand and adjust the dental hygienist job and to reorganize the dental workforce system.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.111-115
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• 2004

This study was aimed to establish the self-concept as the dental profession and dedicate to the development of dental hygienist role by understanding the relation between the self-concept of dental hygienist and practice performance as dental hygienist. Following the thorough investigation of this correlation, the importance of self-concept as the dental profession was confirmed, and the understanding about the practice performance as dental hygienist was renewed. Dental hygienist working in dental clinic located in Jeonju city, Jeollabuk-Do were selected as the subjects of this study, and the materials were collected from Mar. 11 to Mar. 25, 2002 for 15 days. SPSS was used for analysis of data to deal with ANOVA and verification of Pearson correlation. The results of this research can be summarized as follows; 1. In comparison of the degree of professional self-concept according to the general characteristics of the subjects, there were significant differences in religion(p<.05) and educational background(p<.01). 2. In comparison of the degree of practice performance according to the general characteristics of the subjects, the results showed the significant difference in religion(p<.05). 3. There were highly significant correlation between the professional self-concept and practice performance as dental hygienist(F=.663, p<.001).