Saito A, Tomita C, Sato Y, Cathcart G
Department of Clinical Oral Health Science, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
Int J Dent Hyg. 2009 Aug;7(3):188-95. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2009.00388.x.
The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions towards the profession and level of self-esteem of Japanese and Canadian dental hygiene students.
Third year dental hygiene students enrolled in a Japanese and a Canadian dental hygiene programme were asked to participate in a survey study. An instrument was developed to obtain students' opinions about the profession. The present study also explored dental hygiene students' levels of self-esteem, and the relationship with perceptions towards profession.
Scores for dimensions including 'Motivation', 'Expectation' and 'Environment' were significantly higher among the Canadian students over Japanese students. The level of explicit self-esteem of the Canadian students was significantly higher than that of the Japanese students, and it was positively correlated with their expectations of the profession.
There were significant differences in perceptions between Japanese and Canadian dental hygiene students. It is suggested that educational strategies should be planned to positively influence the students' perceptions toward the profession and improve the level of self-esteem.
本研究旨在调查日本和加拿大口腔卫生专业学生对该专业的认知以及自尊水平。
就读于日本和加拿大口腔卫生专业课程的三年级学生被邀请参与一项调查研究。开发了一种工具来获取学生对该专业的看法。本研究还探讨了口腔卫生专业学生的自尊水平，以及与专业认知的关系。
在“动机”“期望”和“环境”等维度上，加拿大学生的得分显著高于日本学生。加拿大学生的显性自尊水平显著高于日本学生，且与他们对该专业的期望呈正相关。
日本和加拿大口腔卫生专业学生的认知存在显著差异。建议制定教育策略，以积极影响学生对该专业的认知并提高自尊水平。
