Tandhygienistens uppfattning gällande användandet av sin formella kompetens

: En kvalitativ studie

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine how the dental hygienist perceive that their formal competence is used in the national dental health service. The study is qualitative and include interviews with ten registered dental hygienists who work in the national dental health service.  The interviews were conducted with the support of an interview guide. The interviews were recorded and lasted approximately 10-20 minutes and were analysed with a qualiative contentanalysis. The result of the study shows that the majority of the participants perceive that their competens is used to its fullest. The experience is subjective and says nothing aboute  the objektive use. Even though the participants felt a satisfaction regarding their competence use, a number of interior and exterior factors show the contrary, such as the own attitude towards how the competence is used, the motive to further development within the profession, the staffs attitude towards the dental hygienist competence, workenviroment and the ability to influence their own worksituation. The study also shows that the dental hygienist perceive that the dental hygienist profession needs to be clarified and the dentists knowledge about the qualification and competence of dental hygienists needs to be improved. Further research regarding the objective competence use needs to be done regarding the dental hygienist profession.