Poor oral hygiene can be potentially life-threatening in inpatients. However, no basic protocol on oral hygiene customized for inpatients exists, and lack of oral care related knowledge, attitude, and skills among caregivers could be detrimental to the general health of patients. This study sought to identify the oral care practices and oral health status of inpatients with varying physical activity limitations in a rehabilitation ward.Sixty-one inpatients in a rehabilitation ward were evaluated for their medical and physical conditions and oral health status. These were assessed using the bedside oral exam, decayed, missing, filled teeth index, plaque index, gingival index, and caries activity test.In total, 40 men and 21 women (mean age, 56.6 years) were included in this study. Among them, 50.8% of the patients could brush their teeth unassisted, whereas 49.2% required assistance from an assistant for oral care. The proportion of patients receiving nasogastric tube feeding was higher in the group that could not provide oral self-care; 36.7% and 33.3% of these patients showed moderate and severe dysfunction, respectively, based on bedside oral exam. Scores for the swallowing, tongue, and total domains of bedside oral exam were poorer for patients who could not provide oral self-care (P < .01). The caries activity test indicated a moderate risk for both groups.Our findings suggest that an oral care protocol that considers the physical activity limitations in inpatients in rehabilitation wards is necessary to minimize negative influences on the systemic health of these patients.

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The purpose of this study was to analyze employment preparation behavior, career decision making self efficacy, and career identity by the subjects' general characteristics, and determine the relationship among them. The survey was conducted to 243 dental hygiene students in college located in South Korea, analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. There was significant difference of employment preparation behaviors between male and female. Career decision making self efficacy was higher with increasing age and their credit, but showed the opposite trend in expected salary. Career identity was related to credit and the satisfaction in major, students dissatisfied with major recorded higher sense of career identity. The result of multiple linear regression showed the career decision making self efficacy affect the employment preparation behavior, the explanatory power was about 20%. It will be necessary encourage the students social advance in many different fields, research to improve the relationship between career decision making self efficacy and satisfaction in major of dental hygiene students.

Objectives:The objective of the study was to infection control by analyzing the influence of working environment on infection control activities in the dental hygienists. Methods: The cross-sectional study was based on a survey on a total of 377 dental hygienists working in dental settings. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship of general characteristics and infection control activities. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS for Windows version 20.0, and p<0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: Predictive powers(=Adjusted R 2 of the investigated factors such as operation room, sterilization⋅disinfection⋅laundry, dental unit waterline, staff⋅individual, infection control system, personal protective equipment, medical waste, hand hygiene, oral surgical procedures, clinical contact surfaces were adjusted R 2 =0. 394, 0.306, 0.277, 0.244, 0.241, 0.177, 0.165,, 0.154, 0.134, 0.124 respectively. Conclusions: In order to enhance infection control activities, the program development and implementation for the aseptic procedure is very important. The program should include periodic reinforcement of infection control education and regular monitoring of infection control activities.

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