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Journal of Technologic Dentistry 2024; 46(4): 166-173

Published online December 30, 2024

https://doi.org/10.14347/jtd.2024.46.4.166

© Korean Academy of Dental Technology

군 병사들의 구강 건강 실천 행위, 군 의료서비스 신뢰도 및 치과위생사의 역할 인식에 대한 연구

조민정

김천대학교 치위생학과

Received: August 20, 2024; Revised: November 10, 2024; Accepted: November 20, 2024

Oral health practices, trust in military medical services, and perception of dental hygienists’ roles among soldiers

Min Jeong Cho

Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Care, Gimcheon University, Gimcheon, Korea

Correspondence to :
Min Jeong Cho
Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Care, Gimcheon University, 214 Daehak-ro, Gimcheon 39528, Korea
E-mail: bada964@hanmail.net
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1761-3052

Received: August 20, 2024; Revised: November 10, 2024; Accepted: November 20, 2024

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate soldiers’ oral health practices and trust in military medical serviceswhile proposing strategies to enhance awareness and expand the roles of dental hygienists.
Methods: An online survey using Naver Forms (Naver) was conducted from June 1 to July 14, 2024, targeting soldiers in Army Unit Y. Data from 134 respondents were analyzed.
Results: Soldiers with greater interest in oral health were more likely to undergo regular dental check-ups, scaling, and brushing (p<0.05). Both dental check-ups and scaling increased post-enlistment (p<0.05), but only 15.6% of those highly interested in oral health utilized military dental services (p=0.784). Trust in military medical services declined with longer service, particularly among sergeants (p<0.001). Most soldiers primarily viewed dental hygienists as dental assistants (56.0%), reflecting limited awareness of their broader roles. Among those who used military dental facilities, 42.9% reported neutral satisfaction, whereas 57.1% expressed willingness to reuse the services.
Conclusion: These findings emphasize the need to broaden the roles of dental hygienists in the military, particularly as oral health educators, to support the development of effective education and policy initiatives for oral health promotion.

Keywords: Dental hygienists, Military personnel, Oral health, Patient satisfaction, Trust

Article

Original Article

Journal of Technologic Dentistry 2024; 46(4): 166-173

Published online December 30, 2024 https://doi.org/10.14347/jtd.2024.46.4.166

Copyright © Korean Academy of Dental Technology.

군 병사들의 구강 건강 실천 행위, 군 의료서비스 신뢰도 및 치과위생사의 역할 인식에 대한 연구

조민정

김천대학교 치위생학과

Received: August 20, 2024; Revised: November 10, 2024; Accepted: November 20, 2024

Oral health practices, trust in military medical services, and perception of dental hygienists’ roles among soldiers

Min Jeong Cho

Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Care, Gimcheon University, Gimcheon, Korea

Correspondence to:Min Jeong Cho
Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Care, Gimcheon University, 214 Daehak-ro, Gimcheon 39528, Korea
E-mail: bada964@hanmail.net
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1761-3052

Received: August 20, 2024; Revised: November 10, 2024; Accepted: November 20, 2024

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate soldiers’ oral health practices and trust in military medical serviceswhile proposing strategies to enhance awareness and expand the roles of dental hygienists.
Methods: An online survey using Naver Forms (Naver) was conducted from June 1 to July 14, 2024, targeting soldiers in Army Unit Y. Data from 134 respondents were analyzed.
Results: Soldiers with greater interest in oral health were more likely to undergo regular dental check-ups, scaling, and brushing (p<0.05). Both dental check-ups and scaling increased post-enlistment (p<0.05), but only 15.6% of those highly interested in oral health utilized military dental services (p=0.784). Trust in military medical services declined with longer service, particularly among sergeants (p<0.001). Most soldiers primarily viewed dental hygienists as dental assistants (56.0%), reflecting limited awareness of their broader roles. Among those who used military dental facilities, 42.9% reported neutral satisfaction, whereas 57.1% expressed willingness to reuse the services.
Conclusion: These findings emphasize the need to broaden the roles of dental hygienists in the military, particularly as oral health educators, to support the development of effective education and policy initiatives for oral health promotion.

Keywords: Dental hygienists, Military personnel, Oral health, Patient satisfaction, Trust

Table 1 . General characteristics of subjects.

Categoryn (%)
Age (yr)
≤2138 (28.4)
22~2363 (47.0)
≥2433 (24.6)
Education levels
High school graduation42 (31.3)
≥University (college) student or graduation92 (68.7)
Ranks
Private0 (0.0)
Private first class33 (24.6)
Corporal40 (29.9)
Sergeant61 (45.5)
Smoking status
Yes69 (51.5)
No65 (48.5)
Drinking status
Yes104 (77.6)
No30 (22.4)
Total134 (100.0)

Values are presented as number (%)..


Table 2 . Oral health practices according to interest in oral health.

CategoryInterest in oral healthp-value

LowMiddleHigh
Regular dental examination<0.001***
Not practice at all7 (36.8)1 (1.9)1 (1.6)
Not practice8 (42.1)1 (1.9)0 (0.0)
Normal2 (10.5)40 (76.9)18 (28.6)
Practice0 (0.0)10 (19.2)30 (47.6)
Very practice2 (10.5)0 (0.0)14 (22.2)
Regular scaling procedures<0.001***
Not practice at all5 (26.3)1 (1.9)2 (3.2)
Not practice7 (36.8)6 (11.5)4 (6.3)
Normal3 (15.8)33 (63.5)10 (15.9)
Practice0 (0.0)10 (19.2)33 (52.4)
Very practice4 (21.1)2 (3.8)14 (22.2)
Brushing your teeth after eating snacks or late-night snacks<0.001***
Not practice at all1 (5.3)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Not practice5 (26.3)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Normal5 (26.3)33 (63.5)3 (4.8)
Practice3 (15.8)12 (23.1)33 (52.4)
Very practice5 (26.3)7 (13.5)27 (42.9)
Number of toothbrushings per day0.018*
Once2 (10.5)1 (1.9)2 (3.2)
Twice15 (78.9)22 (42.3)31 (49.2)
Three times1 (5.3)26 (50.0)23 (36.5)
Four times or more1 (5.3)3 (5.8)7 (11.1)
Total19 (100.0)52 (100.0)63 (100.0)

Values are presented as number (%)..

Statistically significant differences by chi-square test α=0.05..

*p<0.05, ***p<0.001..


Table 3 . Changes in oral health promotion actions according to interest in oral health before and after military service.

CategoryRegular dental examinationRegular scaling procedure


Joining the armyJoining the army


BeforeAfterBeforeAfter
Oral health interest
Low1.84a±1.252.05a±1.222.36a±1.572.52a±1.46
Middle2.76b±0.733.13b±0.522.90a,b±0.863.11b±0.73
High3.34c±1.163.88c±0.803.34b,c±1.233.84c±0.95
p-value<0.001***<0.001***<0.001***<0.001***
Total2.91±1.143.33±1.003.03±1.203.37±1.07

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation. By one-way ANOVA test at α=0.05..

a,b,cThe same characters are not statistically significant by Duncan multiple comparison at =0.05..

***p<0.001..


Table 4 . Subjective perceptions of trust in military medical services by rank before and after enlistment.

CategoryBefore enlistmentAfter enlistmentTotal


Very distrustfulDistrustfulNormalTrustfulVery trustfulVery distrustfulDistrustfulNormaiTrustfulVery trustful
Rank
Private first class3 (13.0)2 (6.5)20 (31.7)8 (61.5)0 (0.0)5 (23.8)2 (6.3)22 (32.8)4 (57.1)0 (0.0)33 (24.6)
Corporal9 (39.1)12 (38.7)15 (23.8)0 (0.0)4 (100.0)11 (52.4)7 (21.9)17 (25.4)1 (14.3)4 (57.1)40 (29.9)
Sergeant11 (47.8)17 (54.8)28 (44.4)5 (38.5)0 (0.0)5 (23.8)23 (71.9)28 (41.8)2 (28.6)3 (42.9)61 (45.5)
p-value<0.001***<0.001***
Total23 (100.0)31 (100.0)63 (100.0)13 (100.0)4 (100.0)21 (100.0)32 (100.0)67 (100.0)7 (100.0)7 (100.0)134 (100.0)

Values are presented as number (%)..

Statistically significant differences were determined by chi-square test with α=0.05..

***p<0.001..


Table 5 . Experience with dental treatment at military medical facilities.

CategoryExperience with dental treatment at military medical facilitiesp-value

YesNoTotal
Rank0.784
Private first class6 (28.6)27 (23.9)33 (24.6)
Corporal5 (23.8)35 (31.0)40 (29.9)
Sergeant10 (47.6)51 (45.1)61 (45.5)
Total21 (100.0)113 (100.0)134 (100.0)

Values are presented as number (%)..

Statistically significant differences were determined by chi-square test with α=0.05..


Table 6 . Dental treatment experience survey in military medical facilities.

Categoryn (%)
Number of military dental visits
112 (57.1)
26 (28.6)
33 (14.3)
4 or more0 (0.0)
Satisfaction with military medical facilities
Very dissatisfied1 (4.8)
Dissatisfied4 (19.0)
Normal9 (42.9)
Satisfied6 (28.6)
Very satisfied1 (4.8)
Intention to revisit military medical facilities
Yes12 (57.1)
No9 (42.9)
Dental treatment received at military medical facilities
Cavity treatment11 (52.4)
Root canal treatment5 (23.8)
Periodontal treatment1 (4.8)
Tooth extraction (wisdom tooth extraction)4 (19.0)
Others0 (0.0)
Total21 (100.0)

Values are presented as number (%)..


Table 7 . Perception of dental hygienists’ occupations and key roles by military personnel.

Categoryn (%)
Do you know a job as a dental hygienist?
Yes105 (78.4)
No29 (21.6)
What do you think about the job of a dental hygienist?
Very Bad1 (0.7)
Bad0 (0.0)
Average85 (63.4)
Good32 (23.9)
Very Good16 (11.9)
What do you think is the major task of a dental hygienist?
Dental assistant75 (56.0)
Oral health educator22 (16.4)
Scaling practitioner31 (23.1)
Hospital operator6 (4.5)
Total134 (100.0)

Values are presented as number (%)..


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Journal of Technologic Dentistry

eISSN 2288-5218
pISSN 1229-3954
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