Study On Training Standard And Curriculum Provision Of Dental Hygienists

BackgroundOral disease has a very high mobility among the Chinese population, but lacking of dental professionals, unreasonable construction of dental associated staff together with insufficient professional training, these reasons results in time-wasting dental treatments for dentists and resource-wasting of the senior dentists. The dental hygienist program, which has been established in many countries, its candidates will receive the dental hygiene degree through relatively short training program and get the practice license after special exam set by the nation. They will participate in the education of dental hygiene, oral prophylaxis, as well as prevention of beginning and developing of periodontitis. The dental hygienists are engaged in education of oral health and some treatments, to free the senior dentists for more complex treatments. The Health Department of China gradually realizes the importance of the training dental hygienists. The founding of professional job and clears the scopes of its practice are under discussion now.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is trying to exploratory structure the training standard and curriculum of dental hygienists by comparing the practice scope of dental hygienists internationally as well as the situation in China. Its goal is to establish the training system and formulate the training plan of dental hygienists, and set the original training version for the dental hygienist position in China. This study could strengthen the oral-disease prevention ability in China and improve the health condition of our nation.MethodsThis study was comparing the purpose and methods of dental hygienist training programs internationally through massive literature study, mainly by literature analysis method, comparative analysis method and Delphi Method. After established the standard and curriculum setting index of dental hygienist training program in China initially, the training system of dental hygienist was founded followed the results of twice questionnaire survey and suggestion from27authorities in related fields.ResultsThe questionnaire response rates of twice survey are96.4%and100%respectively and the authority index is0.82. After one2nd level index of professional ability required for dental hygienist and one index for dental hygienist training curriculum were established, the training system of dental hygienist was initially formulated. The result of twice survey showed:the Kendall coefficiency index W was0.413and0.440, respectively (P value<0.001), which means the high rate of acceptance of authorities for all index. These index could be the reference for the initial establishment of the dental hygienist training standard.ConclusionThe evaluation index system from this study is high in credibility, good in practical and powerful in references, which could be the consultation for the dental hygienist profession setting in China. It could be the criteria and the evaluation standard for the dental hygienist training too.