Attitudes of Korean Dental Students Toward Individuals with Special Health Care Needs.
The purposes of this study were to ascertain the attitudes of dental students toward individuals with special health care needs (SHCNs) in Korea and to elucidate the characteristics associated with these attitudes. The authors recruited students from four of the 11 dental schools in Korea to participate in a survey; these schools were selected for regional balance. The Scale of Attitudes toward Disabled Persons (SADP) was used as the primary survey instrument, and ten independent variables were included. Of the 1,100 possible participants, 1,057 responded to the survey, for a response rate of 96.1%. The results showed that although the students' attitudes did not differ significantly by gender, their attitudes did show statistically significant differences on nine other variables: age, year, religion, self-esteem, friends with a disability, volunteering, admission course, concern for individuals with SHCNs, and intention to treat individuals with SHCNs (all p<0.05). The attitudes of these Korean dental students toward individuals with SHCNs were relatively unfavorable, showing lower SADP scores than reported in Western countries and likely reflecting Eastern cultural values in general. Future efforts should place greater emphasis on special care dentistry education and encourage the development of more favorable attitudes regarding the treatment of individuals with SHCNs.
Dr. Hyo-Seol Lee is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Hoi In Jung is Research Assistant Professor, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Seon-Mi Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Dr. Jiyoen Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Pusan, Republic of Korea; Dr. Re Mee Doh is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced General Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea; and Dr. Jae-Ho Lee is Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hyo-Seol
HS
Lee
Dr. Hyo-Seol Lee is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Hoi In Jung is Research Assistant Professor, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Seon-Mi Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Dr. Jiyoen Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Pusan, Republic of Korea; Dr. Re Mee Doh is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced General Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea; and Dr. Jae-Ho Lee is Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hoi In
HI
Jung
Dr. Hyo-Seol Lee is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Hoi In Jung is Research Assistant Professor, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Seon-Mi Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Dr. Jiyoen Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Pusan, Republic of Korea; Dr. Re Mee Doh is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced General Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea; and Dr. Jae-Ho Lee is Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Seon-Mi
SM
Kim
Dr. Hyo-Seol Lee is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Hoi In Jung is Research Assistant Professor, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Seon-Mi Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Dr. Jiyoen Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Pusan, Republic of Korea; Dr. Re Mee Doh is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced General Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea; and Dr. Jae-Ho Lee is Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jiyoen
J
Kim
Dr. Hyo-Seol Lee is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Hoi In Jung is Research Assistant Professor, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Seon-Mi Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Dr. Jiyoen Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Pusan, Republic of Korea; Dr. Re Mee Doh is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced General Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea; and Dr. Jae-Ho Lee is Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Re Mee
RM
Doh
Dr. Hyo-Seol Lee is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Hoi In Jung is Research Assistant Professor, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Dr. Seon-Mi Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Dr. Jiyoen Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Pusan, Republic of Korea; Dr. Re Mee Doh is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced General Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea; and Dr. Jae-Ho Lee is Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. leejh@yuhs.ac.
Jae-Ho
JH
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004497:Education, Dental; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D012067:Religion; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D014838:Volunteers; D055815:Young Adult
Korea; access to health care; attitude of health personnel; dental care for chronically ill; dental care for disabled; dental education; dental health service; people with special health care needs; professional role; special care dentistry