Practical Roles of Dental Therapist Working at District Hospital : A Case Study of Four District Hospitals in Lampang Province
The objective of this descriptive research was to understand practical roles of dental therapists who had been working at district hospitals in Lampang Province. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen dental therapists working at district hospitals, two lecturers from Sirindhorn College of Public Health and a secretary of Dental Auxiliary Association. Data were collected from April to August 2014 and analyzed by using content analysis. The result revealed two crucial conditions affected practical roles of dental therapists at District Hospital, which are unclear public health policy from Ministry of Public Health and dynamic change of curriculum for dental therapist provided by Sirindhorn College of Public Health. Practical roles of dental therapists were therefore highly depended on policy and regulation of provincial public health office and district hospitals. In Lumpang province, dental therapists had to work and be precisely monitored by using indicators set up from the Ministry of Public Health. They were also assigned variety of roles and responsibilities and regulated by the district hospitals. These roles could be classified into two types, according to their major task. These were treatment-based service and prevention-based service including oral health promotion. Moreover, dental therapists perceived inadequate knowledge and skill trained by Sirindhorn College of Public Health. They also felt legally insecure while providing dental treatment. Dental therapists adapted to those unstable roles and responsibilities by self-learning during routine practice, learning from experienced dental therapists or dentists, participating in academic conferences, enrolling continuing educations, and forming their group supports both in daily life and as members of Dental Auxiliary Association. The study indicated that public health policy for distinct role and responsibility of dental therapists were needed. Obtaining this obvious policy, the curriculum relating to practical roles of dental therapists could be well addressed.
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