Dental Hygienists in Israel: Employment Evaluation, Job Satisfaction, and Training Implications

Abstract

Fundamental changes have occurred in dental services for children in Israel that are likely to affect workforce needs for dental hygienists. The aim of this study was to describe the employment situation and job satisfaction of a sample of dental hygienists in Israel, to estimate associated variables, and to discuss corresponding possible implications for training programs after these changes. An e‐mailed questionnaire sent to all dental hygienists in the Israeli Dental Hygienists Association list included questions about respondents' demographic background, years of experience, working hours, desire to work in an alternative occupation, and sense that they were valued within the dental community. The response rate was 20.7 percent. The responses showed that dental hygienists worked, on average, in 2.11 different working venues, 23.64 hours/week, and 12.34 hours in the private sector. Almost 63 percent of the respondents were willing to add working hours as a dental hygienist, preferably in the private sector. Also, 38.2 percent of the respondents worked in an extra non‐dental hygienist job (mean=7.05 hours/week). These dental hygienists reported a high level of job satisfaction. After regression analysis, a high number of working venues, years of experience, and hypothetically choosing again to be a dental hygienist were found to be significant indicators of job satisfaction (R2=0.491). It is important that dental hygienists be satisfied and willing to expand their activities. Legislative changes may require reorientation and refocusing of dental hygiene education programs.

A survey of the sociodemographic and educational characteristics of oral health technicians in public primary health care teams in Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Our results show that most of the interviewed OHTs were female (97.1%), which agrees with the findings of other studies conducted with health care professionals [ 6 ] and auxiliary oral health professionals [ 4 , 5 ]. There is a historical process of feminization of the oral health professions [ 15 ].…”

“…In other countries [ 4 , 5 ], professions with job descriptions similar to that of the OHT have been assessed as to their sociodemographic and educational characteristics. Given the importance of human resources in the national health care system [ 6 ], such information is relevant for the planning of policies for health care human resources.…”

Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction and Their Correlation with Educational Standards among Dental Assistants

“…Research interest has increased regarding the relationship of working conditions and psychosocial factors to job satisfaction among dental healthcare workers, such as dentists 8 , 9 ) , dental hygienists 1 , 10 , 11 ) and dental assistants 2 , 5 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ) . However, no study has been conducted to explore job satisfaction among dental assistants working in Middle Eastern countries, where expatriate healthcare workers constitute an integral part of the healthcare workforce.…”

Work engagement among Dutch dental hygienists

“…In several studies among dental practitioners, the presence of intrinsic motivating factors, such as “opportunity to use abilities,” has shown a positive influence on job satisfaction . Motivating factors include having responsibilities, variety of work, and opportunity to use abilities, and seeing results of work, recognition of contributions, remuneration, more job experience, higher number of workplaces, work conditions, and good cooperation between coworkers . These motivating factors make a positive contribution to job satisfaction and engagement among oral health professionals .…”