Dental Hygienist Case Study

Results
The response rate was 41% (n=169), 80% (n=138) and 40% (n= 46) for dentists dental therapists and oral hygienists respectively. The majority of participants were female (n=203; 57.5%) and 24.6% (n=87) had a postgraduate education (Table 1). On average the participants were in practice for 12 years and had graduated 13 (average) years ago. Table 1: Demographic profile of participating dental practitioners (n=353) Dentists Dental therapists Oral hygienists Total n % n % n % n %
Participants 169 47.9 138 39.1 46 13 353 100
Male 90 25.5 57 16.1 3 0.8 150 42.5
Female 79 22.4 81 22.9 43 12.2 203 57.5
Post graduate degree 39 23.1 41 29.7 7 15.2 87 24.6

Participants were asked to reflect on the nature of their clinical work, duration …show more content…
Did you have to work fast?
Never 13 7,7 1 0.7 5 10.9 19 5.4
Sometimes 51 30.2 54 39.1 16 34.8 121 34.3
Often 64 37.9 52 37.7 16 34.8 132 37.4
Always 41 24.3 31 22.5 9 19.6 81 22.9
5. Were you given extra time to finish your work?
Never 29 17.2 22 15.9 14 30.4 65 18.4
Sometimes 101 59.8 84 60.9 25 54.3 210 59.5
Often 32 18.9 18 13 6 13 56 15.9
Always 7 4.1 14 10.1 1 2.2 22 6.2
6. In your undergraduate training was there a focus on your health and wellbeing as a practitioner?
Never 81 47.9 59 42.8 18 39.1 158 44.8
Sometimes 64 37.9 37 26.8 15 32.6 116 32.9
Often 16 9.5 18 13 6 13 40 11.3
Always 8 4.7 24 17.4 7 15.2 39 11
7. Did you learn about how to take care of yourself as a qualified practitioner from an occupational health perspective?
Never 83 49.1 50 36.2 18 39.1 151 …show more content…
What a waste of a module” (Participant 61065806- dental therapist)
3.Posture 71;20.1% “Correct working posture was included in the pre-clinical lab and sometimes when working in the clinic but more intense sessions should be done in occupational health. Only daily posture is covered minimally but no one talks about repetitive posture - causes and impact on your body, detail preventative measures of such risks to your health”
(Participant 73719952- dental therapists)
4. How to deal with stress? 60;16.9% “Two year diploma, as the course is too intensive and the time constraints to finish such a vast scope of practice leaves room for increased occupational health hazards for an already stressed

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Dental Hygienist: A Case Study

Dental Hygienist: A Case Study