• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.225-236
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• 2004

It has been suggested in research results thai dental hygienists have high risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, mainly caused by the repeated motion of extensor and flexor or the use of vibration tools, compared to other occupations. To find out the situation of the carpal tunnel syndrome of dental hygienists, who are exposed to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, this study used 132 questionnaires given on May 22, 2004, the period of continuing education of the first half year in the Gwangju Jeonnam area, and obtained the following results. 1. Subjects worked at a dental ciinic(32.6%), a hospital(31.8%), and a public health center(35.6%). Age by work was under 24 in a clinic(17.4%) and a hospital(15.9%), and over 30 in a public health center(35.6%). 2. In practice conducted over one time a day, a scaling accounted for 90.7% in a doctor's office; 595% in a hospital; and 3.0% in a public health center, suggesting significant difference(p<0.01). Pit and fissure sealant accounted for 53.5% in a clinic; 53.2% in a hospital; and 95% in a public health center, also suggesting significant difference(p0.01). 3. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome appeared in a wrist(12.1%), a right hand(14.4%), and a left hand(5.3%). 4. In case of temporary crown practice, symptoms appeared in a wrist(22.0%), a right hand(14.0%), and a left hand(4.0%), suggesting significant difference(p<0.01). The above results showed that 12.1% of dental hygienists was exposed to carpal tunnel syndrome. Thus, it is considered very important that dental hygienists should be given education of the danger of continuous work in certain motions and prevention education of improving repeated position, and make efforts to reinforce self-control ability.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.197-207
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• 2020

Objectives: To provide basic information for improving the professional image of the dental hygienist among adults who visit the dentist. Methods: From December 5, 2018 to January 25, 2019, 214 adults in Seoul or Gyeonggi filled out a Google online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple regression analysis. Results: The overall average score of the professional image of dental hygienists was 3.59. In addition, there were significant differences in the image according to age, education, and occupation. The image according to the dental visit experience was highest for those providing orthodontic treatment. The difference in professional image recognized by the dental hygienists and the patients was highest in the case of those dental hygienists responding that they had been educated at a four-year university, who were considered as medical practitioners, and were called a dental hygienist. Lastly, the factors related to the professional image of the dental hygienist were positively affected in the case of preventive purpose of visit, and graduate or higher education of the patients. Conclusions: In order to establish the professional image of dental hygienists, public relations for adequate occupational awareness of their work should be continued. Additionally, it is necessary to establish the role through the systematic expansion of the professional image and their being considered as medical professionals, reflecting the reality of the work field.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.200-205
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of dental hygienists in Japan. The study explicated the history, core curriculum, National Examination for Dental Hygienists, work roles of dental hygienists, and workplaces of dental hygienists. This study was based on the government policy report on dental hygienists and the information published by each public institution. The latest statistics presented by the institutions were collected through official websites. The employment information of graduates from Hiroshima University was analyzed based on actual field study. The results of the study revealed that social demand for dental hygienists has steadily increased and policies and education have been revised accordingly. The work roles of dental hygienists have expanded to meet the needs of the treatment and those of public health fields. In line with major policy changes, the educational period has been extended from 1 year to 3 or 4 years, while the mandatory credits for graduation have been established. Licensing examinations were being performed by the local governments since 1948 due to the different situations of dental hygienists in different areas. In 1992, they were converted into a single national examination. The work roles have expanded from assisting dental treatments to health guidance, home care, and perioperative care. Consequently, the number of dental hygienists has increased, especially in healthcare facilities for the elderly. Dental hygienists perform various roles. However, the most essential role is to provide the best oral care services to the patient. The expected role of dental hygienists has expanded in alignment with public healthcare needs and support for the elderly. The government and universities are expected to bring about improvements such as diversifying the channels of education and establishing policies to respond to growing patient needs by cultivating excellent dental hygiene professionals.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.173-184
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was two-fold: to identify the effect of dental hygienist's self-determination motivation on their job engagement and to analyze the moderating effect of compensation satisfaction that affect the relevance. Methods : Data were collected using a structured self-report questionnaire administered to 260 dental hygienists working in dental hospitals and clinics in Busan, South Korea. These were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0 and SPSS Process Macro 3.5. A frequency analysis, including the respondents' general characteristics, frequency, percentages, and standard deviations, was performed. A regression analysis was also performed using SPSS Process Macro to verify the moderating effect of compensation satisfaction in the effect of self-determination motivation on job engagement. Results : The self-determination motivation of the dental hygienists had a statistically significant positive effect on their job engagement, which was the dependent variable. Higher intangible compensation satisfaction levels led to a stronger effect of intrinsic motivation but a weaker effect of extrinsic motivation on job engagement. Moreover, higher tangible compensation satisfaction levels strengthened the effect of intrinsic motivation on job engagement. Conclusion : Recently, the demand for oral health care has been increasing, Competition in the dental medical service market warrants, high-quality dental services based on accurate diagnosis and treatment. In this context, dental hygienists' job engagement must be improved. For this purpose, increasing the satisfaction of dental hygienists with self-determination motivation and appropriate compensation is effective. In addition, attention must be paid to the moderating effect of compensation satisfaction on the relationship between intrinsic motivation and job engagement. On the basis of the implications of this study, the results can be used as basic data for improving dental hygienists' welfare system and manpower management.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.773-784
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• 2021

Objectives: This study presents the basic data necessary to explore the methods used of Korean dental hygienists to resolve oral health inequalities in Korea via reviewing the professionalization trend of American dental hygienists. Methods: The supervision levels of American dental hygienists, and system of dental therapists were analyzed using the data published by the relevant associations. Results: In America, dental hygienists help address oral health inequalities. However, due to limitations in the supervision levels and scope of practice of dental hygienists, the autonomy of dental hygienists was expanded, and mid-level practitioner were employed. The autonomy for dental hygiene practice was higher in public than in private in America. Some states have introduced dental therapists as mid-level practitioners. Their practice settings have limitations such as serving low-income, uninsured, and underserved patients or serving in a dental health professional shortage area. Conclusions: It is necessary to expand the autonomy of dental hygienists based on their profession. In particular, it is suggested that they start with the low-risk level practices. Further, it is necessary to introduce a dental hygiene specialist system specialized for fields with high social demands.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.675-681
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• 2012

Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare started to implement oral health hub center to provide oral health preventive program and dental treatment to public, especially dental vulnerable class in 2006. But, there is no applicant area to implement it regardless of national budget arrangement in 2012. This study is aimed to investigate the reason not to be implemented and requirements of implementation. 293 among 1,000 public dental hygienists in the area where have not implemented oral health hub center were surveyed in Korea from April to July in 2012 through convenience sampling. The questionnaire consisted of the reason why oral health hub center have not been implemented, the requirement of implementation, duty area and duty position et al. After removal of insufficient responses, 217 questionnaires were analyzed by t-test and ANOVA using SPSS 20.0. The reason why oral health hub center have not been implemented were deficiency of the priority list as compared with other health program (72.4%), space insufficiency (71.4%), regional budget insufficiency (70.5%), will insufficiency of oral health promotion (70.5%) and manpower insufficiency (62.7%). The first requirement of implementation were space expansion and regional budget expansion, followed by reduction of record-originated and administrative tasks, understanding on oral health program of higher ranking public officials in health center, manpower expansion, reduction of other tasks than oral health program and volunteer source expansion. Budget insufficiency and manpower insufficiency in Metropolis were ranked higher than other area (p<0.05). The group not to discuss oral health hub center graded each reason not to be implemented significantly higher than the other group (p<0.05). We suggested that to promote the importance of public oral health program be needed to public and higher ranking public officials to implement oral health hub center. In addition, we insisted that more dental manpower and budget be needed for reduction of oral health inequity in metropolis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.635-643
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• 2017

This study examines the relationship between emotional labor and depression in dental hygienists. Data were collected from 186 dental hygienists working in dental clinics in Daegu from early March to early April 2016. The survey was composed of questionnaires related to general characteristics, work-related characteristics, emotional labor, and depression. As a result of analyzing the subordinate factors of emotional labor, 57.0% of the factors of 'organization support and protection system' were the highest, and the effect of emotional labor on depression was 'emotionaldisharmony and damage', 'Organizational support and protection system', and especially, the ' emotionaldisharmany and damage' factors were 4.042 times higher than normal. The dental hygienist's degree of emotional labor risk is high, and education, prevention and management measures for emotional labor will be prepared. In addition, emotional labor affects the depression of dental hygienists as well, and comprehensive mental health measures are needed to take into consideration general and occupational characteristics that affect depression.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.345-352
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to survey clinical dental hygienists for their perceived ethical dilemma and professionalism. The subjects in this study were 393 dental hygienists who randomly selected worked in dental clinics. After a survey was conducted, the collected data were analyzed with a SPSSWIN 18.0 program. The findings of the study were as follows: Dental hygienists perceived ethical dilemma scored 2.46 on a 5-point scale on average. In view of its sub-areas, the sub-areas which scored highest was 'dental hygienist with the profession'(2.62), followed by 'dental hygienist with object'(2.41) and 'dental hygienist with coworker'(2.34) in their order. Dental hygienists perceived professionalism scored 3.28 on a 5-point scale on average. In view of its sub-areas, the sub-areas which scored highest was 'sence of public service'(3.55), followed by 'autonomy'(3.42), 'reference professional group'(3.14) and 'sence of mission'(3.01) in their order. In regard to the relationship of the general characteristics to professionalism, those who were older, whose career was longer, whose education was highest and who were married were statistically significantly ahead of their counterparts in that aspect. In relation to factors affecting professionalism, longer career and higher education had a better impact on professionalism. Those factors made a 13% prediction of that.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.1037-1048
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• 2010

Objectives : The awareness of health care need increasing attention from the public along with changing professional human-resources activity. As there are increasing social demand for the roles and professionalism of dental hygienists, the purpose of this study was to examine the job performance, creativity and organizational climate of dental hygienists by their own self-diagnostic evaluation in an attempt to help enhance their work ability. Methods : According to the data released as August 2008 by the Dental Association and public health centers in Gwangju, 735 dental hygienists worked at 425 dental clinics. The subjects in this study were 156 dental hygienists at 85 dental clinics who were selected by proportionate sampling method from among the dental hygienists. After an interview survey was conducted in person, the answer sheets from 132 respondents were analyzed except 24 incomplete ones. The questionnaire used in this study consisted of 49 items. A five-point Likert scale was used and SPSS 12.0 program was analyzed the data. Results : 1. As a result of checking the types of works, treatment cooperation(54%), and oral health education often(45%), They weren't responsible for preventive treatment(42%). 2. When they made a self-diagnostic evaluation of creativity and organizational climate, they put the highest value on their autonomy(2.21), followed by positive attitude(2.10). Out of seven organizational climate, challenging spirits(2.81) ranked highest, followed by reliability(2.66). 3. Major management eopmubyeol individual creativity compared with three business relationships and a positive attitude in the case of the high group received oral health education and care management services in a group doing the most was General office work and office assistance work in the medical assistance group that was doing business primarily. 4. In the relationship between self-assesment score and three performance duties, Positive difference was noted in the group with positive attitude and elevated autonomy in terms of performing oral health education. Conclusions : As a result, individual creativity and organization of the atmosphere, each detail, through analysis of the self-assessment model, developed guide on the investigation by doing a dental hygienist, a unique business promotion and Enlargement of the study suggested the need to be considered is.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.23-32
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• 2013

This study aimed to explore possible relationships between self-efficiency and intention to leave in dental hygienists so as to provide basic data for developing solutions to effectively manage dental hygienist man power. A total of 206 dental hygienists from different dental care institutions in Cheonbuk Province were chosen as subjects by a convenience sampling method. Data were collected through a self-reported survey. The results were as follows. The self-efficiency was higher among dental hygienists who were more than 36 years of age, had graduated university, were at their cuurent job longer than 11 years, and reported their annual income to be more than 25 million won. As their age was younger and their education and income levels were lower, their intention to leave was stronger. Also subjects who were unmarried, did not feel satisfaction with their current job, and did not want to stay any longer at the location where they were currently working tended to have higher intention to leave. The higher their self-efficiency, the lower their turnover intention. An examination of the three factors offered by a factor analysis on self-efficiency, 1) sense of competence, 2) sense of confidence, and 3) strong drive, revealed that the higher their sense of competence, the lower their turnover intention. It was also revealed that their self-efficiency had a significant influence on their turnover intention and the most influential factor was their sense of competence.