한국치위생학회

A study on the performance and necessity of dental hygienists for oral health promotion activities for the elderly according to their learning experiences and performance experiences

가인 송1   선정 신1   보미 신1   상희 유1   수명 배1,*   

Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry & Research Institute of Oral Science, Gangneung Wonju National University

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness of the performance and necessity of oral health promotion activities and seek ways to revitalize the professional role of dental hygienists in oral healthcare for the efficient oral care of the elderly. Methods: Eighty-five dental hygienists in charge of oral health promotion projects at public health centers and 38 dental hygienists in network dental clinical trials were investigated for their learning experience, performance experience, feasibility, and necessity of dental hygienists for general and oral health service items for the elderly. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The degree of performance possibility according to the learning experience and performance experience of the dental hygienist for the whole body and oral health promotion activity items for the elderly showed that the degree of performance possibility was higher among those with experience compared to the non-experienced person, and it was statistically significantly higher (p<0.05). Conclusions: The dental hygienist’s professional oral health service is a necessary system to improve practical knowledge and skills and to provide a wide range of professional oral health services for the elderly.

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