Analysis on the current status of clinical practice and training in dental hygiene students

Bok-Yeon Won   Gye-Won Jang1   Mi-Yeong Hwang2   Jong-Hwa Jang3,*   

Department of Dental Hygiene, Daejeon Health Institute of Technology
1Department of Dental Hygiene, Jinju Health College
2Department of Dental Hygiene, Dongnam University
3Department of Dental Hygiene Science, Hanseo University

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to review the current status of clinical practice and training in dental hygiene in hospitals and clinics for the students. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 80 dental hospitals and clinics from August 8 to September 12, 2016. Except incomplete answers, 211 copies were retrieved and analyzed. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects (6 items), present condition of clinical education (7 items), support policy and facilities (8 items), teaching personnel (6 items), improvement direction (3 items), and general considerations (3 items). Results: The annual practice time for students was 8.4 weeks. The average number of students per each practice institution was 5.95. The evaluation of the clinical practice period was rated as ‘average’ by 55.3% of the respondents, while 65.4% preferred the current duration of the practice. Meanwhile, 33.0% of the respondents wanted to increase the practice period. In clinical training education support, 62.3% of the hospitals had a person in charge, 79.2% of the hospitals and clinics had a operative procedure, appointed staff and a department for student practice. But 86.5% of the hospitals did not have standards for the budget for practice and instruction fee. In the personnel for clinical training, 52.6% said they were dental hygienists. In 87.1%, the practice instruction conducted by professors was done through communication with the hospital or clinic, while the man-to-man practice instruction was 8.6%. Conclusions: It is necessary to improve the process and operation method of dental hygiene clinical training. In order to make clinical training meet education goals, a standardized set of criteria is needed to support training education and guidelines for instructors and students.

Acknowledgements

이 논문은 2015학년도 대전보건대학교 교내연구비 지원에 의한 논문임.

Figures & Tables

Table 1. General characteristics of subjects