Hygienists and operating auxiliaries: the opinions of New Zealand dental practitioners.
A postal survey was sent to the 1,122 members of the New Zealand Dental Association holding practising certificates in 1989. Replies were received from 53 percent, of whom 80 percent were general dental practitioners, and 45 percent had previously experienced working overseas with hygienists. Only 1 percent of respondents were opposed to any type of auxiliary working in New Zealand. At the time of the survey, 16 percent were already employing auxiliaries under Section 11 of the 1988 Dental Act. Six percent were employing hygienists and 10 percent were employing NZDA operating auxiliaries. A further 16 percent wanted to employ hygienists in the near future and 10 percent would consider employing NZDA operating auxiliaries. Altogether, 42 percent were employing or wished to employ auxiliaries (22 percent hygienist and 19 percent NZDA operating auxiliary). Dentists responding in this survey spent little time pursuing important hygienist-type duties themselves, but indicated that these were the tasks most likely to be delegated to auxiliaries. Most respondents thought that hygienists should be trained in New Zealand, and 60 percent felt the training should be at the School of Dentistry. The majority were of the opinion that the course should last 18-24 months. Eighty-one percent of respondents thought that former school dental nurses required additional training before being allowed to become auxiliaries, and 42 percent thought such additional training should be up to 3 months long and comprise a block course. Eighty-five percent thought there should be an examination at its completion. Approximately one-third of respondents were not prepared to be involved in training a person to perform auxiliary clinical duties.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin.
Bradley
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Kennedy
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D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000193:education; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education; D003797:Dental Staff; D003815:Dentists; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011215:Practice Management, Dental; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends