Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of systemic disease-related knowledge among dental hygienists and analyze the effect on their job performance, empowerment, and satisfaction to provide basic data for expanding education on systemic diseases among dental hygienists and improving their job performance, empowerment and satisfaction. Methods: A survey was conducted among dental hygienists working in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do region, South Korea, from October 27 to November 10, 2020, with a total of 245 questionnaires included in the final analysis. Results of analysis revealed an average score for systemic disease-related knowledge among dental hygienists of 16.53±3.33 points and the higher the systemic disease-related knowledge, the higher the job performance, empowerment, and satisfaction. The higher the coronary artery disease knowledge and respiratory and infectious disease knowledge, the higher the job performance, and the higher the respiratory and infectious disease knowledge, the higher the job empowerment and job satisfaction. This study revealed that the higher dental hygienists’ level of systemic disease-related knowledge, the higher their job performance, empowerment, and satisfaction. Therefore, this study suggests that dental hygienists’ education on systemic disease-related knowledge should be expanded, and diverse systemic disease education programs should be developed for application in clinical practice.
Figures & Tables
Table 1. General characteristics of study subjects (N=245)
