Factors Affecting Clinical Competence in Dental Hygiene Students

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine the factors that influence clinical performance of dental hygiene students to provide useful data for developing strategies to improve clinical competence. Methods: The effects of variables on clinical competence by quantile level were analyzed using quantile regression analysis in 247 dental hygiene students. Quantile regression and multiple regression analyses were conducted using the Stata 11.0 program to analyze predictors of clinical competence. Results: The clinical competence score of dental hygiene students was 42.69±5.90, the satisfaction of clinical practice was 49.90±7.44, the clinical practice stress was 50.62±7.37, and the professional self-concept was 31.68±4.41. Empathy was the highest at 50.87±4.93. Multiple regression analysis showed that school year, stress from clinical training, satisfaction with clinical training, professional self-concept, and empathy had significant impact on clinical competence. Quantile regression analysis showed that the effects varied depending on the clinical competence level. School year and professional self-concept had a significant positive effect, regardless of the clinical competence level, while empathy had a significant positive effect at the top 10% (Q90) of the clinical competence level. Satisfaction with clinical practice affected clinical competence at Q25, Q50, and Q90. Stress from clinical practice had significant effects at Q25, Q50, and Q90 (p＜0.05). Conclusion: According to the study results, different factors affected clinical competence according to the quantile of clinical competence. This study provides valuable implications for designing clinical competence enhancement programs and strategies. In addition, objective indicators for considering factors that may affect the clinical competence, such as academic competence and satisfaction of practice hospitals, are expected to require detailed analysis and measures.