• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2020

Background: This study aims to analyze the job stress of dental hygienists and the factors affecting somatization and to provide basic data for effectively managing job stress and somatization of dental hygienists. Methods: In this study, the data collected from 208 dental hygienists working in Jeollabuk-do Province were analyzed. Job stress was investigated using a questionnaire with 43 questions. In addition, the degree of somatization was evaluated through a simplified psychotherapy examination (Symptom Check List-90-Revision). Results: Age, employment history, position, average monthly income, night duty execution status, and perceived health status were significantly associated with job stress (p<0.05). The job stress sub-items scores based on general characteristics showed significance in 'workload' for those working a five-day workweek and perceived health status (p<0.05). Age, average monthly income, and perceived health status were noted in 'role conflict as a professional'. In 'lack of expertise and skill', it was noted that age, employment history, position, income, and night clinic were implemented. In 'improper treatment and interpersonal issues', level of education and perceived health status were significant (p<0.05). The higher the job stress, the higher the somatization symptom score (p<0.05), and the higher the job stress component, the higher the somatization symptom score (p<0.01). Conclusion: The job stress of dental hygienists should be reduced, and the symptoms of somatization should be mitigated. To improve the quality of medical services and the work efficiency of dental hygienists, proper treatment and compensation systems should be implemented for them to take pride as professional. Further, programs and regulations on mitigating job stress and somatization symptoms should be developed.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.875-890
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aims to establish the concept of "dental assistance" within the dental field and to identify the scope of dental assistance, which can be utilized in order to distinguish the scope of work between jobs. Methods: The literature on dental hygienist work and dental assistance was reviewed, and the laws and precedents related to dental assistance were examined. Results: The criteria for judging the legitimacy of dental assistance included the following: whether the performance was conducted under the guidance and supervision of a doctor; whether there was a possibility of an aftereffect or side effects of the procedure; whether education was conducted within the curriculum; and whether it was evaluated in the national licensing examination. In addition, the work of the assistant in dental surgery and treatment is judged comprehensively by considering the type of dental surgery and treatment, invasive degree, necessity of expertise, and work proficiency of the dental hygienist. Therefore, it is suggested that dental hygienists may be of assistance for dental treatment/surgery because they meet the requirements of dental professionals, such as dental hygiene curriculum, national licensing examination, duties in the field of dentistry, and work proficiency. Conclusions: Dental assistance (including assistance in dental surgery) for dental treatment, dental/medical history taking, taking vital signs, and blood glucose monitoring should be permitted within the realm of dental hygienist work. Therefore, the actual expertise of dental hygienists should be reflected legally and the work of dental hygienists should be realized.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2013

Recently, there have been improvements in diagnostic methods for the assessment of early caries lesions. The reason is that dental professionals are seeking methods to reliably detect incipient dental caries and to remineralize them. This review examines the literature on principles, theoretical background, and history of the Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence (QLF) system (Inspektor Research Systems BV, The Netherlands). Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential application of QLF system to clinical practice for educational purpose, enabling dental hygiene students to perform oral health assessment using the QLF system. In addition, the clinical application of QLF system can motivate patients by providing additional visual information about caries and bacterial activity. The evidences on validity and reliability of the QLF system for detection of longitudinal changes in de/remineralization and caries were examined. The QLF system is capable of monitoring and quantifying mineral changes in early caries lesions. Therefore, it can be used to assess the impacts of caries preventive measures on the remineralization and reversal of the caries process. And the QLF system is a very promising equipment to assess educational effectiveness for dental hygiene students in their learning process. In conclusion, the QLF system is the most effective technology for more sensitive staging of caries and treatment without surgical intervention.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.793-803
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of dental hygiene curricula related to clinical practice in Korea. Methods: Clinical work included the categories 'history taking, infection control, oral prophylaxis, preventive treatment, education/counseling, radiography/reading, assisting/cooperation, impression/bite registration, anesthesia, etc.', and 66 works were finally selected based on the frequent tasks of dental hygienists. The subjects were made to answer nine questionnaires. Results: It was found that the theory and practice of the main works operated quite differently in lectures and practice in each school. All types of practice were applied to all schools in the case of 'scaling'. The evaluation of clinical practice was also found to be very different from school to school. Conclusions: For dental hygienists to establish expertise in clinical practice and promote quality improvement, it is necessary to develop a core curriculum focusing on clinical practice. The standardized curriculum should be improved to an efficient and competency-centered one defining clearly the role of dental hygienists considering the needs and importance of clinical practice.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.139-151
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was to compare the self-evaluated outcomes of communication competency in dental hygiene process of care in the students of a dental hygiene department with the teaching evaluation, and to confirm the difference of communication competency by the evaluator. Methods: This study attempted to confirm the value and usefulness of self-evaluation and teaching evaluation on the communication competency. The subjects of this study were 43 junior students who took a course of dental medical communication at the dental hygiene department of a university located in 'A' city, and the self-evaluation and teaching evaluation were conducted using the evaluation paper which was modified from the communication evaluation tool in the previous studies. The collected data were subjected to the correspondence sample t-test to compare the difference between the communication competency self-evaluation before and after the education, and after communication education, while an independent sample T-test was conducted to compare the differences between the evaluators. Results: The student's self-evaluations before and after the education showed the statistically significant difference, moreover, the post-education competency scores were improved mostly in all the items more than the pre-education competency scores. The score of self-evaluation was higher than that of the teaching evaluation in all items except one question in the case of history-information collection stage. Conclusions: It is confirmed that there is an effect to allow the students to improve their communication competency in the dental health communication education in the dental hygiene department. To evaluate the student's communication competency, the mutual complement of self-evaluation and teaching evaluation should be confirmed in parallel each other.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.123-133
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to understand smoking condition and to investigate the relations among knowledge regarding smoking and oral hygiene, awareness of anti-smoking policy, and self-esteem, to provide fundamental basis, developing programs for smoking prevention and anti-smoking. Methods : From September 7, 2010 to September 16, 2010, questionaire survey was conducted for 566 female university students studying dental hygienics at a local district in Jeollanam-do. Collected data was analyzed by Chi-square test, t-test, one way ANOVA, Scheffe multiple range test, Perason's correlation test, and stepwise multiple regression test. Results : 1. Smoking condition of study subjects on general characteristics showed 17.1%, where 14.0% of previous smoking history, and 68.9% of currently nonsmoker. 2. Analysis on the knowledge related to smoking and oral hygiene, awareness of anti-smoking policy, and self esteem on the general characteristics of study subjects have shown better awareness of anti-smoking policy in non-alcoholics. Significant difference was found in knowledge about smoking and awareness of anti-smoking policy according to current resident status, but no difference found in self-esteem. Higher academic grade was related to higher awareness of anti-smoking policy and better ics. aalcell. Better health, but no diffeoral hygiene were related to better awareness of anti-smoking policy, and bewhich were statistically significant. Favorable interpersonal self-estehip was related to better awareness of anti-smoking policy. 3. Analysis on knowledge regarding smoking related health and oral hygiene, awareness of anti-smoking policy, and self-esteem showed higher level of anti-smoking knowledge in non-smoking group(60.44) compared to currently smoking group or group with previous history of smoking, and better awareness of anti-smoking policy in non-smoking group(53.54) than other groups, which was statistically significant. 4. Correlation analysis among smoking related knowledge, awareness of anti-smoking policy, and self-esteem has found relatively high correlation between smoking related knowledge and awareness of anti-smoking policy, which was statistically significant(r=0.481, p<0.001). 5. Among factors influencing awareness of anti-smoking policy, higher level of smoking related knowledge and satisfaction to specialty was related to higher awareness of anti-smoking policy which was lower in current smoker than past smoker, and higher academic grade was related to higher awareness of anti-smoking policy. Conclusions : Following results emphasize the need to establish a novel curriculum by which effective programs for smoking prevention and education of anti-smoking specialist could be provided as well as promoting coaching anti-smoking activity.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2003

This study aims to furnish basic data about prevention and infection control of Hepatitis B Virus(HBV) for those who, working in dental offices, are particularly exposed to a high risk of HBV infection. A survey was conducted to 310 students including freshmen, sophomores and juniors enrolled in the dental hygiene department in order to examine their knowledge about infection routes of HBV, clinical history of their family members and their own health. The outcomes of the survey showed following facts; 1. Students were found to lack knowledge about the present conditions of their HBsAg and HBsAb of HBV(PF0.05), conduct of preventive vaccination(PE0.05), completion of 3 required vaccinations(PF0.05) and formation of antibody(PF0.05). 2. Students named "blood"(88.6%) and "infected needles"(82.5%) as most likely infection routes of HBV(PE0.05 and PE0.01). These replies came mostly from sophomores(65.6% and 92.1%), followed by juniors(89.2%, 82.5%) and freshmen(81.1%, 73.0%). Least knowledge about infection routes of HBV was sensed with the reply "infection through breast-feeding of positive mother(27.9%)"(PE0.05). Generally, sophomores seemed to have much knowledge about infection routes, followed by juniors and freshmen in order. 3. As to clinical history of family members, 10 students(3.5%) replied that any of their family members is suffering from HBV now, 8(2.6%) revealed that some of their family members once suffered from it and 10(3.2%) reported cases of death of their family members from liver diseases. 4. Ninety-four point seven percent of respondents believed their health to be better than normal.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.807-817
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyzes the job implementation of dental hygienist at dental hospital(university), dental clinic and general hospital in the city of Gwangju. Methods : The subjects in this study were dental hygienists who worked at dental hospital(university), dental clinic and general hospital in the city of Gwangju. A survey was conducted by post from June 10 to August 10. Out of the collected data, 204 answer sheets were analyzed. Results : 1. 'Medical & Dental history taking', 'Extra & Intra oral examination' and 'Dental hygiene care plane' in dental clinic were significantly higher than dental hospital(university) and general hospital(p<0.001). 'Remove of extrinsic stain' and 'Treatment of hypersensitivity tooth' in dental clinic and general hospital were significantly higher than dental hospital(university)(p<0.001). 'Preventive dental caries treatment' and 'Diet control' were shown the low frequency of job implementation. 2. Almost task elements of dental assistance duty shown that dental hygienists under the 24 years old were significantly higher dental hygienists over the 30 years old(p<0.05) and dental clinic and general hospital were significantly higher than dental hospital(university)(p<0.05) in frequency of job implementation. 3. 'Dental staff supervision', 'Patient management' and 'Dental chart arrangement' shown that dental hygienists over the 30 years old were significantly higher than dental hygienists under the 24 years old in frequency of job implementation(p<0.05). 'Infection control' of dental hygienists over 30 years old was significantly lower than dental hygienists under the 24 years old(p<0.001). Conclusions : The results of this study indicate that a scope of dental hygienists' job need to extend also in order to accomplish a job efficiently, is suggested that the effort is necessary to improve a quality of dental hygienist and to change of recognition of the dentist about dental hygienists' job.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.307-318
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• 2017

Objectives: This study analyzed the views, awareness and performance of vocational ethics of dental hygienists employed in health centers. Methods: A survey was conducted on 197 dental hygienists who attended the National Health Association job training session. SPSS WIN 22.0 was used to analyze the results. Results: The vocational ethics that dental hygienists valued the most was integrity, followed by expertise and integrity. The awareness level of vocational ethics was 93.3% and observance level was 97.4%. The methods of information gathering were 34.5% 'off-the-job training' and 34.0% for 'at work or employment SOP' The highest of vocational ethics performance was responsibility, marked 4.25. Significant differences were observed in fairness, cooperation and vocation between different general characteristics such as age, employment history, marital status, work region, and major responsibilities. Conclusions: It is necessary to evaluate the vocational ethics performance of dental hygienists based in health centers in order to develop programs for ethical guidelines and institutional principles to help decision making.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to survey the awareness of methicillin -resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) among dental hygiene students in Yeungnam South Korea. Also the knowledge of infection control and infection diseases was surveyed. Methods : The subjects in this study were 213 dental hygiene students in three different colleges in Yeungnam. This study was conducted by using the self-reported questionnaire. Results : In the first, most of the students(86.9%) did not know about MRSA and 85.7% of them got the information in the college. Secondly, the awareness of infectious disease according to infection control education didn't have statistically significant difference(p>0.05). In the third, the infection control attitude level that the gowns should be changed after the treatment of infectious patients was scored lower than the others questions. on the other hand, the level of 'The use of high vacuum suction', 'The change of wet mask', 'The history taking of infectious disease' was scored higher. Finally, the attitude level according to grade and clinical training had statistically significant difference(p<0.05). But the infection control education had not affected significantly(p>0.05). Conclusions : Despite the infection control education and clinical training, the awareness was found insufficient in infectious diseases and MRSA. Therefore, it should be strengthen that the dental hygiene students were more educated about infection control at college course before clinical training, and especially the danger of MRSA was more.