Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the importance of perception and communication ability among dental hygienists and provide evidence for the activation of communication education necessary to improve communication ability required in the actual dental field. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 227 members attending conservative education in 2020. Results: The following are mean scores of each area of communication according to importance: message conversion ability, 3.82 points; interpretation ability, 3.74 points; goal setting ability, 3.51 points; self-expression ability, 3.48 points; and role performance ability, 3.46 points. The ability was interpreted in the following order: interpretation ability, 3.61 points; message conversion ability, 3.56 points; role performance ability, 3.43 points; self-expression ability, 3.32 points; and goal setting ability, 3.10 points. The highest score in terms of importance of awareness was 4.27 points, the highest among interpretive abilities, that is, to ‘listen carefully to know what the other person intends to say.’ When it comes to communication skills, the highest score was 4.12 points for ‘a nod or a facial expression of understanding while listening to each other.’ Conclusions: In devel oping a training program related to communication for dental hygienists at the clinical site, the curriculum reflecting seven items that needs improvement should be revised; and through this, it is expected that dental hygienists’ communication skills will be improved.
Figures & Tables
Fig. 1. IPA analysis
