Relationship between job competency, core self-evaluation, and job performance in dental hygienists / 대한구강보건학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the relationship between job competency, job performance, and core self-evaluation in dental hygienists. METHODS: The subjects were registered and working dental hygienists in dental clinics. Two surveys were conducted. The first survey was conducted at an academic conference, and the second was via post. The conference participants were 200 dental hygienists, and 156 questionnaires were returned. Another 200 dental hygienists received the questionnaire via mail, and 123 returned the questionnaires. There were 279 questionnaires returned in total; however, only 269 questionnaires were included in the analysis. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0. RESULTS: Job performance was classified into oral health education, prevention treatment, and dental assisting. Competency was classified into achievement and behavior, personal leverage, and recognition specialty. All competency of dental hygienists was similarly taken, but the factors influencing each competency differed from the contents of job performance. Thus, appropriate education and training programs are needed by dental hygienists. Factors such as recognition specialty competency, age, and core self-evaluation influenced oral health education. Recognition specialty competency and core self-evaluation influenced prevention treatment. Moreover, academic ability and core self-evaluation influenced concertation of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the dental hygienists who have a more positive attitude have better job performance. Thus, dental hygienists require continuous evaluation to enhance their professional qualities.