일부 환자들이 인식하는 치과위생사 자질과 직업평가기준이 치위생전문직관에 미치는 영향

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to provide a reference base for developing an education program to improve dental hygiene professionalism by identifying associations between dental hygienist essential qualities, job evaluation criteria and patient perception of the dental hygiene profession. Methods: From March 1 to March 10, 2025, we recruited patients who visited ten dental clinics in the Gyeongsangbuk-do region. After being fully informed of the purpose of the study, all respondents were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 274 returned surveys were used for analyses. Results: Patient-evaluated hygienists scored 36.79±5.87 points for dental hygiene professionalism. Dental hygiene professionalism showed a significant positive correlation with dental hygienist essential qualities and job evaluation criteria. Job evaluation criteria and the essential qualities of dental hygienists were the two most important factors impacting patient of dental hygiene professionalism. The explanatory power of these variables was 55.3%. Conclusions: This study’s results provide a more extensive reference base for establishing and improving patient perception of sound and positive professionalism of dental hygienists, intervening in and devising intervention measures to improve multiple factors impacting dental hygiene professionalism and thereby strengthen patients’ recognition of dental hygiene professionalism to meet a growing need in society.