Financial management practices and attitudes of dental hygienists: a descriptive study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the financial management goals and practices of registered dental hygienists, their satisfaction with their current financial situations and their attitudes about savings, investments and retirement.


METHODS
A 40  question electronic survey was completed by 388 registered dental hygienists. The descriptive instrument assessed financial practices, attitudes, goals and beliefs, retirement mindset, savings habits, debt tendencies and demographic characteristics of respondents. Statistical analyses compared  respondents' beliefs about their financial independence and security with their current financial practices. Analyses included: independent samples t-tests, chi-square analysis and ANOVA.


RESULTS
Most dental hygienists believed themselves to be financially independent  and reported satisfaction with their current financial situation. Significant relationships existed between respondents' satisfaction with their current financial situations and their financial attitudes and practices (saving regularly and having limited debt). Those who indicated they had  personally saved for retirement were more likely to view these savings as their largest source of income during retirement, as opposed to Social Security benefits. A majority agreed that financial management education should be included in the dental hygiene curriculum, and that they would  attend a continuing education course on the subject if offered.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that hygienists have confidence in their ability to provide secure financial futures for themselves. Hygienists who practiced sound financial planning, such as adhering  to monthly budgets, having wills, lowering debt and saving regularly, reported a higher level of financial security than those who did not. Most respondents expressed interest in receiving education about financial management through the dental hygiene curriculum and continuing education courses.
Fones School of Dental Hygiene, University of Bridgeport, USA.
Katherine
K
Russell
Sandra
S
Stramoski
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000191:economics* / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D004496:Education, Continuing; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005376:Financial Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007449:Investments; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010415:Pensions; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D020399:Practice Management / Q000191:economics*; D011364:Professional Practice; D012179:Retirement; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D012943:Social Security; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People