• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.143-159
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• 2006

Objectives; The purpose of the present study is to investigate workplace satisfaction level of dental technicians and the differences between that of dental lab owner's and that of employed dental technicians, who are working in dental laboratories. Methods; Samples were comprised of 137 dental technicians working in dental laboratories. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and analyzed to frequency distribution, correlation, t-test and multiple regression analysis. Results; 1) Dental technicians generally are 'somewhat or a bit satisfied' with their workplace situations, regardless of position, sex, and individual career. 2) Mean values of 4 items out of 11 work situation factors of employed dental technicians were significantly lower than those of lab owner's. The 4 items are the openness of management, working environment, pay, and policy in promotion and raise. They would be sources of dissatisfaction and conflict. 3) Level of satisfaction was significantly correlated with 2 subordinate variables, i.e. working conditions and administration policy. There is a tendency that administration policy is a bit more important for lab owners, while working conditions are a bit more important for employed dental technicians. Conclusion; The employer-employee relationship of dental technicians seems to be sound, as no signs of troublesome problem is detected. But the discrepancy revealed in the above results is telling that there certainly exist some disagreement in the viewpoints of the two groups. It is necessary for the dental technicians to find ways to deal with the possible triggers of discord and discontent.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.126-129
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• 2022

Background: The problem with current dental hygienist education is that it operates as an education system based on the national examination rather than on a practical basis; thus, graduates have difficulties in practice after obtaining their license. This study aimed to propose a job-oriented curriculum by analyzing the links between the task analysis of Korean dental hygienists and dental hygiene learning goals. Methods: This study performed a relationship analysis based on a second job analysis study of dental hygienists conducted by the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute and the learning goals of the Korean Dental Hygiene Faculty Association. Results: Based on the links between the task and learning goals of the dental hygienist, they were classified into six types: 1) tasks listed in the license exam and learning goal, 2) tasks not listed in the license exam but listed in learning goals, 3) tasks not listed in learning goals, 4) learning goals not related to tasks, 5) learning goals listed in a few tasks, and 6) tasks related to several learning goals. The results showed that most of them correspond to the 5th classification, followed by the 3rd and 4th categories, which are mostly basic science learning goals. Tasks without learning goals are not included in the curriculum; thus, the curriculum needs to be supplemented. The overlapping learning goals of several subjects for one job skill must be reduced in job-oriented education. Conclusion: We suggest that the dental hygiene curriculum be developed based on task analysis and reflected in the national dental hygienist exam. The clinical practice performance of dental hygienists will take further leap forward through task-oriented education.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to evaluate ChatGPT's performance accuracy in responding to questions from the national dental hygienist examination. Moreover, through an analysis of ChatGPT's incorrect responses, this research intended to pinpoint the predominant types of errors. Methods: To evaluate ChatGPT-3.5's performance according to the type of national examination questions, the researchers classified 200 questions of the 49th National Dental Hygienist Examination into recall, interpretation, and solving type questions. The researchers strategically modified the questions to counteract potential misunderstandings from implied meanings or technical terminology in Korea. To assess ChatGPT-3.5's problem-solving capabilities in applying previously acquired knowledge, the questions were first converted to subjective type. If ChatGPT-3.5 generated an incorrect response, an original multiple-choice framework was provided again. Two hundred questions were input into ChatGPT-3.5 and the generated responses were analyzed. After using ChatGPT, the accuracy of each response was evaluated by researchers according to the types of questions, and the types of incorrect responses were categorized (logical, information, and statistical errors). Finally, hallucination was evaluated when ChatGPT provided misleading information by answering something that was not true as if it were true. Results: ChatGPT's responses to the national examination were 45.5% accurate. Accuracy by question type was 60.3% for recall and 13.0% for problem-solving type questions. The accuracy rate for the subjective solving questions was 13.0%, while the accuracy for the objective questions increased to 43.5%. The most common types of incorrect responses were logical errors 65.1% of all. Of the total 102 incorrectly answered questions, 100 were categorized as hallucinations. Conclusion: ChatGPT-3.5 was found to be limited in its ability to provide evidence-based correct responses to the Korean national dental hygiene examination. Therefore, dental hygienists in the education or clinical fields should be careful to use artificial intelligence-generated materials with a critical view.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted on dental technicians to examine the problems of the dental laboratory registration system and devise a plan to improve it. Methods: For data collection, an online survey was conducted on 14,015 dental technicians registered in the Korea Dental Technologist Association as of October 2020. Among the collected 405 questionnaires, 391 data were used for analysis. Results: We found that dental technicians felt that the dental laboratory opening registration system was unfair. There were problems including the problem of the verification method of job performance, not acknowledging the difference in the job field, and the lack of understanding of the structure of work cooperation between dentistry and dental laboratories. Furthermore, it was recognized that the system was improved by reflecting the change in job area according to the change of the times. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to reorganize the legal system so that the dental technicians can have their professionalism and autonomy recognized while remaining faithful to the public interest of protecting the national oral health by revising the related regulations, thereby ensuring smooth work activities.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.139-143
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• 2013

The patient who has congenital hypothyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism could have mental retardation even though adequate hormone treatment and cannot endure conventional dental treatment. In this case, general anesthesia is selected to administer effective dental treatment. But, there could be symptoms such as anemia, neuropathy, associated pituitary or adrenal hypofunction, cardiac failure even in euthyroid state. And, bradycardia, mental dullness, hypothermia, slow reflexes can appear in case of inadequate thyroid hormone replacement. Especially, macroglosssia, slow drug metabolism, exaggerated responses to anesthetic agents and decreased ventilatory responses could be problem during general anesthesia. The presentation of hypoparathyroidism also varies depending on the chronicity of the result of hypocalcemia. Muscle spasms/tetany, paresthesias, and seizures may occur in an acute onset. Chronic hypocalcaemia causes fatigue, muscle cramps, lethargy, personality changes, and cerebration defects.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2015

Background: Many people experience varying levels of discomfort when confronted with the prospect of dental treatment. Dental treatment can be a traumatic experience, especially for children and adolescents with dental anxiety. In this age group, dental fear causes a significant problem in dental management and has been related to severe dental caries and dental pain. The Dental Fear Survey (DFS) is the most widely used measure of dental fear. This study was undertaken to develop the Korean version of the DFS (K-DFS) and test its reliability and validity. Methods: The K-DFS, which uses projective techniques to measure children's and adolescents' dental fear, was developed. The DFS was translated into Korean and participants were selected via convenience sampling. Reliability and validity were tested using data from a sample of 813 middle school students in Gyeonggi Province, selected from the Self questionnaire survey. The K-DFS was administered twice to 102 adolescents aged 12-15 years. Results: The K-DFS had high internal consistency reliability (99.1%) but low test-retest reliability. Conclusions: The results indicate that the Korean versions of the DFS have good internal consistency reliabilities and test-retest validities. However, we need to further examine the test-retest reliability of the K-DFS and replicate the current study in different samples covering various age groups.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2019

Purpose: This provides basic data for improving educational effectiveness by selecting and applying basic vocational competency applicable to dental technology's sub-major curricula by determining and researching dental technicians' awareness levels concerning the basic vocational competency's importance. Methods: 170 dental technicians working in Daegu, Korea were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire between 9 January 2018 and 23 February 2018. Results: 1. The highest level of the basic vocational competency elements by the awareness levels of importance in dental technology laboratories was shown in the occupational ethics, followed by technological skills, interpersonal skills, self-development levels, problem-solving skills, information skills, resource management skills and skills for understanding groups, communication skills, and mathematical skills. 2. Female dental technicians put relatively higher importance on writing documents and managing time, while males stressing on basic statistics. 3. Dental laboratory CEOs and managers put high values on resource management skills, while head technicians valuing information skills more. 4. The awareness levels concerning the basic vocational competency importance in some dental technology fields did not match those of the dental technology laboratories in the fields of porcelain, crown and bridge, and orthodontics. Conclusion : This study demonstrates that the awareness levels concerning basic vocational competency's importance in some fields of dental technology differ from those of dental technology laboratories. Developing a basic vocational competency curriculum, it seems necessary to find ways to increase educational effectiveness by selecting and applying the basic vocational competency for the respective fields of dental technology.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.849-856
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the influence of social characteristics and self leadership on stress coping method in the dental hygiene students. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 436 dental hygiene students in J area from November 10 to December 10, 2013. The questionnaire consisted ofsocial characteristics of the subjects, self leadership, and stress coping method. The reliability was evaluated by Cronbach alpha. Data were analyzed by frequency, one-way ANOVA, multiple regression analysis using the SPSS 12.0 statistical package program. The self leadership was developed by Mans and adapted and modified by Kim and Park. The leadership included 18 questions of self expectation, rehearsal, goal setting, self reward, self criticism, and constructive area. The stress coping method was developed by Folkman and Lazarus, and adapted and modified by Park. The stress coping method included 24 questions of problem focused coping, seeking social support, emotion focused coping, and wishful thinking. Results: The best stress coping method was wishful thinking and the score was 2.81. The priority order of stress coping method included social support, problem focused coping, and emotion focused coping. The self-expectation, goal setting, self-criticism proved to be highly relevant factors. The explanation power of stress coping method was 29.1 percent. The self expectation, rehearsal, self reward, and self criticism were passive coping methods and the explanation power was 15.4 percent. Conclusions: The self leadership is the most important factor to fulfill the interpersonal relationship abilities, major satisfaction, and satisfaction with clinical practice. The self leadership leads to stress coping ability.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.857-863
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the awareness and activation towards dental medical tourism. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 195 dental hygienists in Seoul from January 30 to September 15, 2014. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA, chi square and t test using SPSS 19.0 program. the questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects, awareness towards medical tourism, medical tourism related hospitals, activation of Korean medical tourism, fields of medical tourism, and improvement of medical tourism. The questionnaire was adapted and modified from Kim and Kim by Likert scale. Results: Dental hygienists gave the high perception and possibility towards medical tourism (94.1%). Those carrying out medical tourism accounted for 39.5 percent. The most difficult problem was communication with foreigners (80.5%). The performance of prosthesis and anesthesia was the most specialized area that supported the medical tourism (84.1%). In order to improve the medical tourism implementation, dental medical technology must be strengthened (39.8%). Conclusion: The desirable dental medical tourism must be carried out by proficient dental medical manpower, higher technology, active participation and financial support by the government. This dental medical tourism will provide job opening for the dental hygienists.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 2011

Background: Elderly patients with progressive dementia including Alzheimer's disease (AD) are more and more often scheduled to undergo general anesthesia for various pathologies including dental problem. But, there is high risk of deterioration of underlying mental diseases and other co-morbidities. So it is important to implement preventive strategies and take adequate measures to minimize negative perioperative events in these patients. Methods: We reviewed the 17 cases of 11 patients with AD who underwent ambulatory general anesthesia for dental treatment at the clinic for the disabled in Seoul National University Dental Hospital. Results: The mean age was 68 (57-81) years. All of them were diagnosed with AD and some had hypertsnsion, bronchiectasis, urinary incontinence. For anesthesia induction, 3 cases (1 patient) was needed physical restraint, but others showed good or moderate cooperation. Drugs used for anesthesia induction was thiopental (11 cases), propofol (3 cases) and sevoflurane (3 cases). All patients received nasotracheal intubation without difficulties. Mean total anesthetic time was 3 hour 44 min ${\pm}$ 60 min and staying time at PACU was 83 ${\pm}$ 34 min. All the patients except one who showed hypertension discharged without any complication. There was no death or long term hospitalization because of severe complications. Conclusions: If general anesthesia is needed, pertinent diagnostic tests and workup about other medical problems, and appropriate anesthetic planning are essential for safety.