臺北市牙醫師對牙醫助理人員之需求評估報告

Evaluation of the Needs of Dental Assistants in Dental Clinics of Taipei City

為探討國內建立牙科醫療輔助人員制度之環境是否已經成熟，並瞭解牙醫助理在各地區診所、醫院的工作情況，以及牙醫師期望助理人員所應扮演的角色，本研究以問卷調查方式了解牙醫界意見，加以綜合研判並提出建議。此次計劃係針對台北市一般開業及各大醫療機構牙醫師發出問卷，共獲得有效樣本686份。調查結果發現：有92.1%樣本認為有牙科輔助人員之必要性。理想上認為牙醫助理人員存在可提升醫療品質者佔79.2%，可分擔牙醫師工作者佔72.3%，認為可加強醫病關係者佔53.8%。認為需要牙科助理協助之項目為消毒與儀器保養者佔97.4%，認為有利診間維護補充醫材者佔96.4%，另有88.9%認為以協助口腔衛生教育為主。對於現有牙醫助理人力資源調查發現：全職助理以一人最多，佔33.2%；兩人次之，佔25.2%。兼職助理以一人最多，佔30.2%；兩人次之，佔16.8%。而現實中助理最優先處理的工作，高達71.2%樣本是櫃檯工作，65.3%樣本為協助醫師維護診問環境及補充醫材，66.1%樣本是消毒與保養器械。在理想之牙醫師與助理比例方面，支持一位醫師應有兩位助理者最高，佔46.3%；一位醫師搭配一位助理者次之，佔38.6%。基於本研究的結果，我們發現牙醫助理在牙醫師心中理想的角色與現實上角色有明顯差距。由於市場的需求及全民健保的實施，建立台灣牙科輔助人員制度之環境及時機應該已經成熟，相關法規制度必須建全，使其在有證照認證下、工作權獲得保障，進而成為醫事人員之一。

In order to evaluate if current circumstance is mature to establish system and rule for dental auxiliaries, this study designed questionnaire to understand the needs and current roles of dental assistance in dental clinic of Taipei. A postal questionnaire survey of dentists was performed. There were 686 valid replies. The results showed that 92.1% of the sample believed the role of dental assistant (DA) is essential. 79.2% of all respondents agreed that DA helps to improve the quality of dental care ideally, and 72.3% claimed that DA minimizes the loading of daily clinical practice of dentists. Over a half of all respondents (53.8%) indicated that DA will promote doctor-patient relationship. 97.4% of the sample reported that infection control of the clinics is the main job of DA, and 96.4% regarded DA should prepare materials and instruments for daily practice and help to keep the environment clean. 88.9%of the sample needed DA to assist performing oral hygiene instruction for patients. The survey of present manpower of all sampling dental clinics and hospitals revealed that 33.2%of the sample employed one full-time assistant and 25.2% employed two full-time assistants. 30.2% of the sample employed one part-time assistant and 16.8% employed two part-time assistants. 71.2% indicated patient reception and counseling is the first priority of DA’s daily work, but 65.3% assumed that preparation of materials and instruments for daily practice and keeping the environment clean were the most important. 66.1% of the sample valued infection control of the clinics than any other works of DA. As the ideal ratio of dentist to DA, most of the sample (46.3%) required one doctor worked with two DAs, and some(38.6%) preferred one doctor worked with one DA. The role of dental assistant in dental clinic, based on the results of our investigation, there is difference between the ideal of dentists and the reality in dental clinic. We suggested that according to the demands of modern dental care and national health insurance, it is the right time to set up the nationally recognized dental qualifications for dental assistants to protect the working right of dental auxiliaries in Taiwan.