Gibbons D E, Corrigan M, Newton J T
Department of Dental Public Health and Oral Health Services Research, Guy's, King's and Thomas' School of Medicine and Dentistry, Guy's Hospital, London.
Br Dent J. 2001 Feb 24;190(4):207-10. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4800926.
To describe the working practices and level of job satisfaction of dental hygienists in the United Kingdom.
Postal questionnaire survey of 3,955 dental hygienists registered with the General Dental Council. Replies were received from 2,533 (64%).
At the time of the survey only a small proportion of respondents (11%) were not working as dental hygienists, the most common reason for a current career break being child rearing. The majority of dental hygienists (78%) were employed in general dental practices, and most worked in more than one practice (64%). Approximately half worked part-time (fewer than 30 hours per week), and part-time working was more common amongst those respondents with childcare responsibilities. In the region of 60% of respondents had taken one or more career breaks during their working life, and the average total duration of career breaks was 11 months, the most common reason for all career breaks was child rearing. Additional qualifications had been gained by 35% of the sample, a high proportion (75%) had attended training courses in the previous year. The respondents expressed a high degree of job satisfaction, those who were older and who had childcare responsibilities expressed higher levels of job satisfaction.
Dental hygienists express a high level of job satisfaction. A proportion take breaks in their career, most commonly for pregnancy and child rearing. The majority return to part-time employment after their career break. Planning of future requirements for the training of professionals complementary to dentistry should be informed by a consideration of the working patterns of dental hygienists.
描述英国牙科保健员的工作实践和工作满意度水平。
对在英国牙科总会注册的3955名牙科保健员进行邮寄问卷调查。共收到2533份回复（64%）。
在调查时，只有一小部分受访者（11%）没有从事牙科保健员工作，目前职业中断的最常见原因是养育子女。大多数牙科保健员（78%）受雇于普通牙科诊所，且大多数人在不止一家诊所工作（64%）。约一半人兼职工作（每周少于30小时），兼职工作在有育儿责任的受访者中更为普遍。约60%的受访者在职业生涯中曾有过一次或多次职业中断，职业中断的平均总时长为11个月，所有职业中断的最常见原因是养育子女。35%的样本获得了额外资格，很大一部分（75%）在前一年参加过培训课程。受访者表达了高度的工作满意度，年龄较大且有育儿责任的人工作满意度更高。
牙科保健员表达了高度的工作满意度。一部分人在职业生涯中会中断工作，最常见的原因是怀孕和养育子女。大多数人在职业中断后会回归兼职工作。在规划未来对牙科补充专业人员的培训需求时，应考虑牙科保健员的工作模式。
