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Public Perceptions of the Profession of Dental Hygiene

Baer, Hannah Lee
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7106-9708
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461195176

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Dental Hygiene, Ohio State University, Dental Hygiene.
Purpose: Due to the profession of dental hygiene’s comparative youth as both a dental and healthcare profession, public, and corporate dental settings, it may not be clear to the public what dental hygienists scope of practice includes as well as where these clinicians fit in the overall realm of healthcare. The purpose of this study was to gauge the perceptions of the general public about the profession of dental hygiene. Methods: A survey was distributed to 713 individuals, and 493 of those individuals completed at least one part of the survey. The survey asked individuals about their perceptions of a dental hygienist’s education, average hourly salary, scope of practice, comparison to dental assistants, and media portrayal of the profession. The survey also asked individuals about their trust and respect for the profession. Data was entered into and analyzed using SPSS version 23 (IBM, Armonk, NY). Results: Survey responses from 493 participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics or qualitative approaches of analytical induction. Comparisons were made on demographic data and questions related to respect and trust using an Independent Samples Kruskal-Wallis test. Conclusion: Results demonstrated that the general public has an overall correct perception of the profession; however, misunderstandings still exist about administration of local anesthesia and nitrous-oxide sedation, salary, and assisting duties. Further research should be conducted to further develop the understanding of how the profession is perceived by the general public in the United States.
Michele Carr, BS, MA (Advisor)
Rachel Kearney, RDH, MS (Committee Member)
John Walters, DDS, MMSc (Committee Member)
88 p.
Dentistry
dental hygiene; public perceptions; media portrayal

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Baer, H. L. (2016). Public Perceptions of the Profession of Dental Hygiene [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461195176

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Baer, Hannah. Public Perceptions of the Profession of Dental Hygiene. 2016. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461195176.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Baer, Hannah. "Public Perceptions of the Profession of Dental Hygiene." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461195176

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1461195176
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.