Nelson D M
Department of Dental Hygiene, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, USA.
J Dent Hyg. 1994 Jul-Aug;68(4):173-80.
This study was designed to identify personal, familial, academic, and employment characteristics of dental hygiene students from the central region of the United States to develop a comprehensive student profile for research and recruitment purposes.
In fall 1990, 25 dental hygiene program directors in ten states in the central region of the United States and 475 students enrolled in these programs were mailed surveys to develop program and student profiles. Data were analyzed using measures of central tendency and frequency.
Directors and students from 24 of 25 dental hygiene programs responded. Data are reported from these 24 directors and 422 of 464 (91%) of the students enrolled in the programs. Dental hygiene students in the central region of the United States are similar in personal, parental, and academic backgrounds to the general population of college students nationally. Unlike the general college population, the regional dental hygiene population tends to be singularly female. Students chose to major in dental hygiene for economic and personal reasons. The availability of employment opportunities, the flexibility to work full- or part-time, and the prospects of making a better income and becoming a professional influenced their decision. Students identified dentists, dental hygienists, and relatives as being influential in their becoming interested in the dental hygiene profession. Previous dental office employment experience also influenced many students in their career choice.
The study findings provide information for dental hygiene educators and others interested in student characteristics and factors that influence the selection of dental hygiene as a career.
本研究旨在确定美国中部地区口腔卫生专业学生的个人、家庭、学业和就业特征，以便为研究和招生目的制定全面的学生概况。
1990年秋季，向美国中部地区十个州的25名口腔卫生项目主任以及这些项目招收的475名学生邮寄了调查问卷，以制定项目和学生概况。使用集中趋势和频率测量方法对数据进行分析。
25个口腔卫生项目中有24个项目的主任和学生进行了回复。报告的数据来自这24名主任以及项目招收的464名学生中的422名（91%）。美国中部地区的口腔卫生专业学生在个人、父母和学业背景方面与全国大学生总体情况相似。与普通大学生不同的是，该地区口腔卫生专业学生群体几乎全是女性。学生选择口腔卫生专业是出于经济和个人原因。就业机会的可得性、全职或兼职工作的灵活性以及获得更高收入和成为专业人士的前景影响了他们的决定。学生们认为牙医、口腔卫生师和亲属对他们对口腔卫生专业产生兴趣起到了影响作用。以前在牙科诊所的工作经历也影响了许多学生的职业选择。
研究结果为口腔卫生教育工作者以及其他对学生特征和影响选择口腔卫生专业作为职业的因素感兴趣的人提供了信息。
