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- Title
The Profession of Dental Hygiene: Pathways to Career Choice and Influences on Professional Identity.
- Authors
Hohneck, Shani; Fitzgerald, Mark; Kinney, Janet; VanDuine, Stefanie
- Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to ascertain factors which influenced dental hygienists to choose the profession and identify ADHA resources which promote and sustain members' professional identity. Methods: This was a quantitative, cross-sectional, nonexperimental study. A 48-item web-based survey was designed and pilot tested. Multiple choice, Likert-scale, and open-ended questions regarding demographics (10), career choice (4), and professional identity (34) were used. The survey was disseminated by the American Dental Hygienists' Association to student and professional members. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Results: A total of 1,983 surveys (n=1,983) were returned, response rate of 6.3%. The majority (n=1,699, 86%) of respondents were professional members. Most participants were female (n=1,940, 98%), White (n=1,668, 84%), and 55+ years of age (n=727, 37%). Both student and professional members rated a desire to work in a health field as the most influential reason for entering the profession (n=59, 21% and n=468, 28%, respectively). Both groups identified continuing education and evidence-based research resources as positively affecting their professional identity (4.11.0 and 4.11.0, p=0.41, respectively) and (4.11.0 and 4.01.0, p=0.13, respectively). Advocacy efforts, Journal of Dental Hygiene, and Access Magazine had a significantly greater positive influence on Professional Members' professional identity (p=0.001, p=0.028, and p=0.001, respectively). Student members reported greater influence on their professional identity in the areas of patient care resources (p=0.01) and support of their career (p<0.001). Conclusion: The desire to have a career in a health field was the most influential factor for career choice. Continuing education and evidence-based research resources most positively affects all members' professional identity.
- Publication
Journal of Dental Hygiene, 2021, Vol 95, Issue 5, p80
- ISSN
1043-254X
- Publication type
Academic Journal