W Yu

Publications (2)2.38 Total impact

• Article: Attitudes of the Victorian oral health workforce to the employment and scope of practice of dental hygienists.

  M Hopcraft, C McNally, C Ng, L Pek, T A Pham, W L Phoon, P Poursoltan, W Yu
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  ABSTRACT: Increasing the number of dental hygienists and expanding their scope of practice are two policy directions that are currently being explored to increase the supply of dental services in the context of projected oral health workforce shortages in Australia. Understanding factors relating to the employment of hygienists and the attitudes of the oral health workforce to dental hygiene practice are important in this policy debate. A postal survey of a random sample of Victorian dentists, periodontists, orthodontists and hygienists was undertaken in 2006. Dentists and specialists were grouped into those whose practice employed or did not employ a hygienist. Data on the attitudes of dentists, specialists and hygienists towards various aspects of dental hygiene practice were explored. A response rate of 65.3 per cent was achieved. Hygienists believed that their employment made dental care more affordable (53.7 per cent) and improved access to dental care (88.1 per cent), while few dentists believed hygienists made care more affordable. Most hygienists believed they were capable of diagnosing periodontal disease and dental caries and formulating a treatment plan, but there was less support from employers and non-employers. Dentists were strongly opposed to independent practice for dental hygienists, although there was qualified support from employers for increasing the scope of practice for hygienists. Dentists who worked with hygienists acknowledged their contribution to increasing practice profitability, efficiency and accessibility of dental services to patients. Hygienists and employers supported increasing the scope of dental hygiene practice, however the majority of non-employers opposed any expansion.
  Australian Dental Journal 04/2008; 53(1):67-73. · 1.19 Impact Factor
• Article: Working practices and job satisfaction of Victorian dental hygienists.

  M Hopcraft, C McNally, C Ng, L Pek, T A Pham, W L Phoon, P Poursoltan, W Yu
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  ABSTRACT: Increasing demand for dental services and a projected shortage in the oral health workforce in Victoria has focused attention on dental hygienists as one mechanism for increasing the supply of dental services. Understanding the dental hygienist workforce is essential in order to plan effectively for the future delivery of dental services in Victoria. A postal survey of a random sample of Victorian dental hygienists was undertaken in 2006. Data on hygienists' demographic characteristics, current dental practice, history of career breaks, aspects of clinical practice and job satisfaction were collected. A response rate of 77 per cent was achieved. A total of 94.0 per cent of hygienists were currently working as a dental hygienist, working an average of 28.7 hours per week. Younger hygienists worked longer hours than their older colleagues. Career breaks were common, with 44.8 per cent reporting a career break of greater than one month, predominantly for child rearing, with a mean career break of 20.1 months. Hygienists reported a high level of satisfaction with most aspects of their employment. Victorian hygienists worked predominantly in private practices in metropolitan Melbourne, providing a range of preventive and periodontal services. Understanding the working patterns of dental hygienists is critical as hygienist numbers expand in the future, in order to undertake thorough evidence-based workforce planning.
  Australian Dental Journal 04/2008; 53(1):61-6. · 1.19 Impact Factor