Abstract
Objectives : The objective of this study was to analyze cognition and status of oral health education of dental hygienists who manage the patients visiting dental clinics and to utilize the findings as continuous study data required for development of systematic oral health education program for management of peridontal disease of adults. Methods : Survey was carried out for 261 dental hygienists working in dental clinics who are performing oral health education of patients with peridontal disease living. Results : 1. In the socio-dynamic diagnosis, it was analyzed that, the younger the age is and the lower the career is, the more the work is centered around assisting medical treatment job and, the older the age is and the higher the career is, the work is centered around oral health education job. 2. In the behavioral diagnosis, it was analyzed that, as to source of knowledge acquisition, guide of dentists and senior dental hygienists was the highest and, as to education media, visual education and demonstration education were mainly used. 3. In educational diagnosis, as to the degree of knowledge about oral health education and the degree of practice, it showed that the degree of knowledge was lower than the degree of practice in peridontal disease process and oral prophylaxis as well as scaling part. 4. In both the cases of independent practice and group practice, it showed that the most frequent obstacle was insufficient educational materials and tools and it was analyzed that acquisition of new knowledge and technology is required as a matter to be improved. Conclusions : It seems to be required for the dental hygienists to develop detailed knowledge and professional technology in order to induce actions and motive of patients during oral health education of peridontal patients and to develop and produce data for efficient education of peridontal patients.