A Study on the Oral Health Literacy and Related Factors of Mother’s in Some Areas: A 25% Comparison Study of the Upper and Lower Grades / 치위생과학회지

Background@#This study compares and analyzes the degree of oral health information literacy by 25% for upper and lower grades to assess how differences in mothers’ oral health information literacy affect infants’ oral health behavior. @*Methods@#The study surveyed 201 mothers with infants and children using a 36 question survey tool. Cross-analysis was conducted to determine the difference in oral health information literacy between the upper and the lower 25%. @*Results@#Comparing 25% of the upper and lower grades of verbal oral health information literacy scores, the word with the most significant difference in the correct answer was resin. An item asking about the time to eat after fluoride varnish application showed the most significant difference in the correct answer on the functional oral health information literacy scale. Mothers’ oral and functional oral health information literacy scores showed that verbal literacy was statistically significant for brushing guidance after children’s meals, brushing guidance before children’s bedtime, food intake restrictions before bedtime, and restrictions on consumption of cavity-inducing foods (p＜0.05). Functional literacy was statistically significant in the post-brushing test of children and the correct brushing method map items (p＜0.05). @*Conclusion@#As a result of comparing and analyzing the upper and lower 25% of the mother’s oral health information literacy, it was found that the mother’s oral health information literacy affected the infant’s oral health behavior. Therefore, systematic education is needed to raise literacy by grasping the level of oral health information literacy of mothers, and oral health education by level according to oral health information literacy should be developed.

A Study on the Oral Health Literacy and Related Factors of Mother’s in Some Areas / 치위생과학회지

Background@#This study aims to provide basic data for development of the level-based oral health care program depending on the mother’s oral health literacy by finding out how mother’s oral health literacy can effect on the preschool children’s oral health and behavior. @*Methods@#The survey was conducted on 192 mothers who have preschool children and the data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, multiple regression analysis to identify differences in verbal and functional oral health literacy. @*Results@#The study showed statistical significance (p＜0.05) in educational level depending on differences in verbal and functional oral health literacy by sociodemographic factor. In differences in verbal and functional literacy depending on experience of education for oral health behavior and oral health, statistical significance (p＜0.05) was showed highly on verbal and functional literacy in the case that subjects have an experience of education for oral health and their children have not been experienced of oral illness. And when it comes to the case that subjects have experience of education for oral health within one to two years, statistical significance was showed highly on verbal literacy. It showed that verbal and functional oral health literacy effects to oral health care behavior of children judging from results that the higher level of mother’s verbal oral health literacy, the higher score of children’s oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior. @*Conclusion@#It is necessary to develop the systematic program which is appropriate for characteristics of each oral period in childhood depending on level of primary caregiver’s oral health literacy, and systematic education should be preceded to enhance the literacy of the caregiver. It is considered necessary to improve the oral health care of children by developing a manual for oral health care education to enhance primary caregiver’s oral health literacy.

Effects of Dental Hygienists Job Stress on Somatization in an Area / 치위생과학회지

Background@#This study aims to analyze the job stress of dental hygienists and the factors affecting somatization and to provide basic data for effectively managing job stress and somatization of dental hygienists. @*Methods@#In this study, the data collected from 208 dental hygienists working in Jeollabuk-do Province were analyzed. Job stress was investigated using a questionnaire with 43 questions. In addition, the degree of somatization was evaluated through a simplified psychotherapy examination (Symptom Check List-90-Revision). @*Results@#Age, employment history, position, average monthly income, night duty execution status, and perceived health status were significantly associated with job stress (p＜0.05). The job stress sub-items scores based on general characteristics showed significance in ‘workload’ for those working a five-day workweek and perceived health status (p＜0.05). Age, average monthly income, and perceived health status were noted in ‘role conflict as a professional’. In ‘lack of expertise and skill’, it was noted that age, employment history, position, income, and night clinic were implemented. In ‘improper treatment and interpersonal issues’, level of education and perceived health status were significant (p＜0.05). The higher the job stress, the higher the somatization symptom score (p＜0.05), and the higher the job stress component, the higher the somatization symptom score (p＜0.01). @*Conclusion@#The job stress of dental hygienists should be reduced, and the symptoms of somatization should be mitigated. To improve the quality of medical services and the work efficiency of dental hygienists, proper treatment and compensation systems should be implemented for them to take pride as professional. Further, programs and regulations on mitigating job stress and somatization symptoms should be developed.

Effect of Emotional Labor on Somatization among Dental Hygienists in an Area / 치위생과학회지

BACKGROUND: We investigated somatization symptoms experienced by dental hygienists due to stress from emotional labor. Our aim was to provide basic research data that could be useful in the development of efficient stress management schemes for this occupational group. METHODS: We analyzed data collected from 208 dental hygienists working in Jeollabuk-do Province, Korea. To measure the level and intensity of emotional labor among research participants, we used the Korean Emotional Labor Questionnaire. We used the Somatization Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) to measure the level of somatization symptoms among participants. RESULTS: On analyzing the level of emotional labor and somatization symptoms according to general characteristics, participants aged 23~25 years showed high scores for stress due to emotional labor (p<0.05). Working 5 days per week, subjective health status, and organizational support and protection systems were found to correlate with the level of stress due to emotional labor (p<0.05). In the analysis of correlations between emotional labor and somatization symptoms, scoring high across all domains of emotional labor was associated with scoring high for somatization symptoms in the subdomains of emotional labor. When emotional labor and demographical variables were used as independent variables, having higher scores for emotional labor and having poor subjective health status were found to be associated with having higher levels of somatization symptoms (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that working at night and organizational support and protection systems were correlated with emotional labor and somatization symptoms. Measures must be taken at the organizational level to reduce emotional labor and somatization symptoms.

Relationships between Experiencing Verbal Violence and the Emotional Responses and Coping Behaviors of Dental Hygienists / 치위생과학회지

This study investigated the relationships between experiencing verbal violence and the emotional responses and coping behaviors of dental hygienists who worked in Jeonju between February 24 and March 18, 2017 to prepare strategies for managing verbal violence and establish a healthy working environment for dental hygienists. The following findings were obtained in this study. The dental hygienists primarily experienced verbal violence from patients and guardians (1.67 points). The most common verbal violence type was, “Someone treated me impolitely.” The most common emotional response to verbal violence was “anger” (3.52 points). The coping style of most dental hygienists was problem-focused coping (3.28 points), followed by emotion-focused coping (2.75 points). Most hygienists with the problem-focused coping style stated that they resolve the problem through dialogue (3.51 points), while most hygienists with the emotion-focused coping style responded that they just ignore the situation (3.78 points). The relationship between experiencing verbal violence and the emotional responses and coping behaviors of dental hygienists showed a statistically significant positive correlation (p<0.05) with emotional responses and problem- and emotion-focused coping associated with experiencing verbal violence from dentists, patients, and guardians. These findings confirm the need to reduce verbal violence, control emotional responses after exposure to verbal violence, and use more problem-focused coping measures. Dental hygienists must develop interpersonal skills and communication techniques and promote professionalism in their workplace to protect themselves from verbal violence at work.

Relationship between work loss due to oral diseases and self-perceived oral health status among workers / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the work loss caused by oral diseases of workers and their subjective self-perceived oral health status. The study focused on the relationship between work loss due to oral diseases and self-perceived oral health status. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. The sample consisted of 550 workers who resided in Ansan City and Gwacheon City. The data were collected from a self-reported questionnaire survey. RESULTS: The percentage of workers that were absent from the workplace due to oral diseases in the past year was 4.8%, and the average of days of absence from the workplace per worker was 0.1 day. Most of the workers (41.1%) answered “average” for the self-perceived oral health status. However, there were more workers that answered “not healthy” than workers that answered “healthy” for the self-perceived oral health status. The percentage of workers that felt the need for dental treatment because of the presence of oral diseases was 59.5%. There was a statistically significant relationship between the work loss due to oral diseases and the subjective self-perceived oral health status. CONCLUSIONS: Work loss due to oral diseases and subjective self-perceived oral health status should be periodically assessed for use as basic data for the development of oral health-promotion policies for workers.

Utilization of dental care among mothers and children from multicultural families / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify the status of dental care utilization among mothers and children from multicultural families and analyzing the related factors. METHODS: The subjects in this study were 131 mothers from multicultural families and 175 mothers from Korean (control) families who were selected by convenience sampling from the city of Nonsan. The dental care utilization among mothers and children from multicultural families and mothers and children from Korean families were compared. A questionnaire survey was conducted using the self-administration method for mothers from Korean families and by a face-to-face interviewing method for mothers from multicultural families. RESULTS: The proportion of subjects who visited the dentist's office in the past year was not different between the two groups of mothers. However, this proportion was lower in children from multicultural families than those from Korean families. The factors that influenced the visit to dental clinics were age and spouse's age among multicultural mothers and age, spouse's age, personal perceptions about oral health, and oral health concerns among Korean mothers. The factors that influenced dental clinic visits were mother's career, household income, education level of the mother, children's age, mother's dental clinic visits, mother's perception of children's oral health among multicultural children and father's age, marriage duration of parents, children's age, mother's dental clinical visit, and the mother's concerns about children's oral health among Korean children. CONCLUSIONS: Multicultural children visit the dental clinic a lot less than Korean children. Social economic factors such as household income, education level affect the use of dental clinic services by multicultural families.

Factors related to busyness of practicing dentists / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the busyness of dentists and analyzed factors related to busyness in these professionals. METHODS: The subjects were 243 practicing dentists. Surveys were carried out via mail. Busyness was measured by using the Mumma scale. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: The dentists' busyness index was 1.91. Of the participants, 40% of practicing dentists wanted more patients, 30.8% did not overwork but did not want more patients, and 27.1% overworked and did not want more patients. The busyness index was significantly related to the number of dental hygienists and dentists. However, it did not differ with respect to the number of assistant nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The busyness index should be considered when developing relevant human resource plans.

The relationship between oral health behaviors and periodontal health status of Korean adolescents / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine the periodontal health status of Korean adolescents and its relationship with oral health behaviors, as well as to use certain basic sources for improving the periodontal health of adolescents. METHODS: Data were obtained from the original data of the Korea National Oral Health Survey in 2010. The subjects included 12,351 adolescents aged 12 and 15 years. The questionnaire administered to each adolescent included 17 items on demographic variables, such as gender, regions, and oral health behaviors, and subjective perceptions, tooth brushing per period, and intake of cariogenic food. RESULTS: Examination of the periodontal status revealed that 43.1% of the adolescents had healthy periodontal tissue, 20.0% had gingival bleeding, and 36.9% had calculus formation. The adolescents who brushed their teeth before sleeping had significantly better periodontal health, and those who had never smoked had good periodontal health. In addition, those with a higher number of annual visits to the dentist had better periodontal health. Region, age, brushing teeth after breakfast and before sleep, flossing, subjective oral health perceptions, and annual visits to the dentists were significantly associated with the periodontal health status of adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health education must be included while planning oral health services for the improvement of periodontal health in order to change oral health behaviors among the adolescents.

Relationship between restricted activity due to oral diseases and oral health behaviors among adolescents / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between restricted activity due to oral diseases and oral health behaviors among adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used. The subjects were 238 middle school students and 231 high school students; a total of 469 students from 15 different schools located in 7 regions of Bucheon in Gyeonggi Province, Daejeon, and others. The adolescents who participated in the survey were chosen by convenience sampling. The association between restricted activities due to oral diseases and oral health behaviors was analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The annual experience rate of oral diseases stood at 1.4 percent, while the number of days absent and early departures from school was 0.15 days per student. The rate of middle school students who were disturbed by oral disease with respect to sleep, eating, speaking, and/or schoolwork was 33.1 percent. In high school students, it was 40.6 percent. Dental pain and gingival bleeding were identified as major factors to the restriction of activities, and being disturbed while eating was related to cariogenic beverages. CONCLUSIONS: It would be of great social interest to support and promote oral health programs among adolescents. Therefore, a national survey of the status of activity restrictions due to oral diseases in adolescents should be implemented in order to make specific future plans.