• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.301-316
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• 2007

With these changes in the environment of dental service, dental hygienists are suggested to change their roles to cope with the changes. Hygienists are putting forth many efforts to promote smooth and efficient dental treatments, and as a practical measure. As a part to cope with such changes. Korea Dental Hygienists Association(KDHA) has prepared the system of Specialized Dental Hygienist and put the system into enforcement through an affiliated organization, Korean Academy of Dental Hygiene. The purpose of this study is to investigate the specialized nurse system in our country's medical environment and the specialized dental hygienist systems in other countries as similar cases comparable to the specialized dental hygienist system in our country and present basic data for the establishment of specialized dental hygienist system. For this study, a survey of dental specialists, such as dentists, dental hygienists and nurses, and patients, has been conducted qualitatively through person-to-person depth interview. The interview questions were related to the need for a specialized dental hygienist system, educational programs, functions and roles, and issues that must be solved for establishment of the system. Based on the interview results, the following conclusions were derived. The specialized dental hygienist system must encourage dental hygienists to possess advanced abilities in clinical practices, present systematic and developmental directions in educational programs, and stimulate specialized dental hygienists to actively work as manager and supervisor, medical health service providers, educators, and researchers. Lastly, for issues that must be solved for the establishment of the system, the duties and jobs of specialized dental hygienists must be defined more concretely, which must be acknowledged by people working in related occupations, citizens and the government. Furthermore, we need to examine the scope of duties of dental hygienists and enact laws and systems to protect the scope. These roles will lead dental hygienists to lay the foundation that allow them to make enthusiastic activities as an oral hygienist and clinician as well as show the way how to act as an educator, a researcher, a manager and an administrator.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.413-425
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to provide basic data to lay the groundwork for the introduction of an advanced dental hygienist system by sampling dental hygienists' views about the system. Methods: A nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted targeting 857 dental hygienists working at dental hospitals and clinics, local health institutions, and educational institutions. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (Duncan as post-analysis), and crossover analysis. Results: The average interest level in the advanced dental hygienist system was 3.83±0.95 points. The necessity by field was confirmed to be the highest during dental hygiene for the elderly and persons with disabilities. The working experience necessary for becoming a specialized dental hygienist is 5.56±2.99 (years). The education period necessary for becoming a specialized dental hygienist is 77.30±77.61 (hours). The work authority level for an advanced dental hygienist was indicated to be 50 respondents (5.8%), who said they required direct guidance from a dentist, 313 respondents (48.2%) who said they needed indirect guidance from a dentist, 200 respondents (23.3%) who said OK when given an advanced dental hygienist's separate judgment, 194 respondents (22.6%), who said that the authority must be varied depending on the work. Conclusions: The interest and need of the advanced dental hygienist system were proven to be high and are expected to be applied to basic data for the introduction and settlement of the system.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.677-685
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the basic materials required for law revision regarding dental hygienists through perceptions and opinions of legislation amendments. Methods: The study was conducted from April 23, 2016. A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 797 dental hygienists in Seoul and Gyeonggido after receiving informed consent from institutional review board (IRB No. PO1-201602-23-001). Results: Necessity for dental hygienist-related medical law revision accounted for 92.4% and 85.4% of dental hygienists replied that specialized dental hygienist system must be established. The reasons for medical law revision were as follows; roles and education of medical technicians (60.6%), settlement of medical legal problems (48.0%), cooperation with other organizations (29.0%), political negotiations (17.4%), and national consensus (9.5%). The score for 'possible to get legal protection by the system establishment of roles and work scope of dental hygienists' was 4.11 of 5 points. Conclusions: It is important to establish the job scope of dental hygienist. The revision of dental hygienist-related law will help to enhance the status of dental hygienists as professional medical technicians in the future.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.611-625
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze dental hygienists' opinions on health promotion projects in public health and their needs for specialized education in the projects, so that it could help prepare specialized education program required for health promotion projects in the future. To meet the goals, total 364 dental hygienists working in public health were asked to join a questionnaire survey via e-mail in September 2007 for data analysis. As a result, this analysis came to the following conclusions: First, it was found that 29.9% of total respondents took in charge of health promotion projects, and 26.9% respondents considered it very necessary to be responsible for the health promotion projects(56.0% considered it necessary). Almost half respondents considered nonsmoking assistance most desirable task(48.4%) and foremost demanded(50.5%) out of all current health promotion projects, 39.8% respondents answered that they could carry on health promotion task, if assigned, after completing occupational training course. Second, it was found that 39.3% respondents acquired other licenses and qualifications than certificate of registered dental hygienist, and their medical licenses or qualifications included certificate of nursing assistant(18.7%) and certificate of social worker(11.8%) by category. Third, in terms of opinions on possible ways to facilitate health promotion projects, it was found that over half respondents considered it recommended to step up specialized education(56.9%) and prepare legal basis and administrative system(53.6%). Notably, 90.7% respondents considered it necessary to step up specialized education in health promotion. Fourth, in terms of opinions on participation in health promotion projects, it was found that almost half respondents(49.7%) considered it necessary and very positive for extending dental hygienists' works in the future. Moreover, in terms of reasons for sum positive answers, it was found that many respondents considered it helpful for appointment(41.8%) and contributing to capability development and job satisfaction(44.5%). In terms of opinions that sud, participation would be unnecessary, 29.7% respondents thought that nothing would be changed in their dental health projects even with reduced number of public health dentists, and 31.3% respondents thought that dental hygienists are professional manpower responsible only for dental health works. Finally, in terms of on-the-job training(OJT) related to health promotion, it was found that 92.9% respondents desired for OJT. In terms of experiences in OJT, 79.9% respondents answered that they never joined OJT course. In other words, only 20.1% respondents joined OJT courses for health promotion task, such as nonsmoking assistance(8.8%), health promotion FMTP training(2.2%), exercises(1.4%) and nutrition(0.6%).

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.427-440
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• 2021

Objectives: We classified items required for dental hygienists' ethics training by domains. We administered a survey on experts using the Delphi method to collect opinions for guiding future trainings. Methods: 33 participants were selected and analyzed using the Delphi method thrice. Results: For relationships with patients, the item "1.3.1.1 I can keep the confidentiality of the information obtained from patients, including mature minors, related to their specific disease and treatment during medical care as well as other personal information of the patients." had the highest mean value (mean=4.88). For medical and social relations, "2.3.2.2 I can understand how staff provide dental services as a team and explain a dental hygienist's roles and responsibilities that enable a team to function effectively." had the highest mean value (mean=4.85). For individual specialized fields, "3.1.1.1 I can explain the roles and responsibilities in public health of individuals, the public, the state and professional dental hygienist." showed the highest mean value (mean=4.82). Conclusions: We identified 3 categories, 14 sub-categories, and 53 items on the scope of training and standards for ethical competencies for practical applications in professional ethics training of dental hygienists.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.477-483
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data that would inform the direction of oral rehabilitation and how to expand of the role of dental hygienists in Japan. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted on the role of dental hygienists in the field of oral rehabilitation in Japan. Results: Japan has been making academic and practical developments in the field of oral rehabilitation for over 30 years, and has been gradually implementing a fee support policy since the 1990s. In addition, Japan has been operating a dental hygienist system specializing in oral rehabilitation since 2006. The related work was being carried out with the dental hygienist's expertise in the field of rehabilitation medical treatment secured. Dental hygienists work full-time at long-term care facilities for the elderly in addition to conducting oral care activities under the local comprehensive care system, in the areas of convalescence and acute rehabilitation, as well as in the field of visiting rehabilitation. It can be seen that, in the field of nursing care, they are specialized in oral care tasks for the elderly. Conclusions: In the future, a policy and related fee system should be gradually prepared to expand the role of dental hygienists in the field of oral rehabilitation that can contribute to improving oral health linked to systemic diseases.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2018

In the treatment of temporomandibular disorders, patient education and self-management method are necessary in addition to other specialized treatments to prevent recurrence of symptoms or development of chronic pain. The causes of temporomandibular disorders are very diverse, but in many cases the patients continue to suffer or experience recurrence because of the repeated exposure to micro traumas such as oral parafunctions, bad habits, and harmful eating habits. Much better prognosis is expected if a dental hygienist who is teamed up with a specialist in the dental clinic can perform patient education and management based on the understanding of temporomandibular disorder.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.499-506
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the participation motivation and satisfaction of continuing education in the dental hygienists. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 900 dental hygienists in Seoul and Gyeonggido in continuing education 2015. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects (7 items), continuing education requirements (6 items), and continuing education evaluation (9 items). Cronbach's alpha was 0.859 in participation motivation and 0.901 in satisfaction. Likert five point scale was used. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22.0 program. Results: The priorities of the contents were as follows; patient care and counseling(49.0%), the latest information and technology(43.9%), middle management roles(23.3%), health care management(17.6%), and lecture studies(4.4%) in order by multiple responses survey. The favorite instructors were specialized dental hygienist(52.3%). The ideal pay for education fee was 50 percent supported by the institution. The best official announcement of education was e-mail. The participation motivation of education was 4.45 points and was focused on the education completion issue. The lowest score was 2.77 of development of human relationships between participants. The choice for instructor was 3.43 and the lowest score was 2.49 of education fee. Overall satisfaction score was 3.04. Conclusions: Diversification of the continuing education is very important. It is necessary to develop and implement the education methods and to train the dental hygiene specialists for the education.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.207-220
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• 2009

This study researched into literature materials in order to utilize basic data on job importance in dental coordinator, and analyzed questionnaire on job importance in dental coordinator for about 2 months from August and September in 2008 targeting dental hygienists and other manpower for dental hospitals & clinics where are located in D region and neighboring region. The following are the results: 1. Dental hospital & clinics where dental coordinators work were surveyed to be totally 66.9%. Dental coordinators were indicated to be 71.1% as for dental hospital$^{\circ}{\S}$clinic(women), and to be 28.4% as for a case with none. There was significant difference according to final academic degree and working place(P<.001). 2. License holders(women) for dental hygienist as dental coordinator accounted for 39.8%. The opposite case accounted for 60.2%. A case of doing duty of dental coordinator given not dental hygienist was indicated to be high. There was significant difference according to working place(p<.01). 3. The task importance on job that a dental coordinator directly performs was indicated to be averagely 3.24, thereby having been recognized to be important. 4. As for the recognition on job importance according to working-year number, it was indicated to have higher recognition on task importance in the more working-year number regarding customer management(p<.01), organization management(p<.05), and self-management(p<.01). 5. Given seeing difference in recognition on task importance according to medical institution, it was indicated to be 3.34 for dental clinic and 3.25 for dental hospital. Thus, the task importance was indicated to be slightly high in a person who works for dental clinic. There was no significant difference. In light of the above results, in order to educate dental coordinator who can successfully perform a role at dental hospital & clinic, a dental hygienist is required who is equipped with dental-clinic career rather than a person without a major. A professionally educational program for dental coordinator needs to be developed. Even in a dental coordinator's task, there is necessity for the curricular development and the specialized education.

• 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).