Abstract
Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the curriculum, educational facilities and employment guidance of the departments dental hygiene in junior colleges in different regions and the satisfaction level of students with their major in an effort to provide some information on the improvement of educational environments and satisfaction level with the major. Methods : The subjects in this study were 315 dental hygiene students in several junior colleges located in Seoul, Gangwon Province and South Jeolla Province. A survey was conducted during a 15-day period from April 15 to March 1, 2010. Results : As for educational environments and satisfaction level with the major, they gave 3.18, 2.95 and 3.11 respectively to satisfaction level with curriculum, facilities/employment guidance and the major. In terms of satisfaction with educational environments by academic year, the juniors and seniors expressed much satisfaction with the qualifications of professors, the preparation of labs and practice devices, the utilization of labs and practice devices and a supply of employment information. By region, the students from the metropolitan area were satisfied a lot with curriculum, the qualifications of professors, practice-centered curriculum, the preparation of labs and practice devices, the utilization of labs and practice devices, the system of employment guidance and a supply of employment information. By credit, the students tho got A expressed lots of satisfaction with the quality of instruction. Concerning satisfaction level with their major by academic year, the juniors and seniors were highly satisfied with relationship with dental hygiene professors and social status of dental hygienists. By school location, the students from the metropolitan area expressed a lot of satisfaction with the content of major courses and social status of dental hygienists. Conclusions : In order to boost the satisfaction level of students in non-metropolitan areas, colleges should try to improve educational environments, and full-fledged assistance should be provided to them.