2017 RDH career satisfaction
1.
1. In which state do you primarily provide patient care?
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
2.
What is your primary occupation as a dental hygienist on this date?
Clinician in small or solo practice
Clinician in corporate, group or specialty dental practice
Clinician in unsupervised or independent business
Educator on dental hygiene campus
Educator on other dental campuses or in industry capacity
Public health dental hygienist
3.
What is your age?
35 or under
36 to 45 years old
46 to 55 years old
56 years and older
4.
Are you a currently a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association? (We ask that members of the California Dental Hygienists’ Association answer “yes” for the purpose of this survey, particularly if you answered with “California” in question #1.)
Yes
No
5.
Do you currently practice dental hygiene in more than one dental office?
No, I just practice dental hygiene in one dental office
Two or more dental offices
Multiple offices due to status as a temporary dental hygienist
Not applicable
6.
How many other dental hygienists are employed in the primary dental practice where you provide treatment?
0 (you are only RDH)
1 other RDH
2 other dental hygienists
3 other dental hygienists
4 or more other dental hygienists
7.
Which best describes your professional morale and your feelings about the current state of the dental hygiene profession?
Very positive/optimistic
Somewhat positive/optimistic
Somewhat negative/pessimistic
Very negative/pessimistic
8.
Which best describes how you feel about the future of the dental hygiene profession?
Very positive/optimistic
Somewhat positive/optimistic
Somewhat negative/pessimistic
Very negative/pessimistic
9.
If you could reverse time and start a new career in 2017, would you still choose to be a dental hygienist?
Yes, dental hygiene is still a rewarding profession
No, the negatives outweigh the positives
I really am unsure about my answer to this question
10.
If you contemplate leaving the dental hygiene profession, would your desired next career path require an additional college degree?
Yes
No
Not applicable
11.
On this date, would you recommend dental hygiene as a career for your children or other young people?
Yes
No
I really am unsure about my answer to this question
12.
Due to evolutionary nature of dentistry as a health-care business, do you plan to accelerate your departure or retirement from dental hygiene?
Yes
No
Unsure
13.
Which factor do you find MOST satisfying about your dental hygiene career?
Patient relationships
Interaction with colleagues
Flexible schedule
Intellectual stimulation as a dental hygiene clinician
Impact of your care on the community
Income
14.
Which factor do you find LEAST satisfying about your dental hygiene career?
The unchanging routine of dental hygiene care over time
Lack of time with patients
Relationship with employer
Relationship with other colleagues
Financial rewards
Job benefits rewards
Lack of professional autonomy
15.
Please estimate how many hours you spend each week on non-clinical (paperwork or infection control) duties?
Less than one hour
Two to three hours
Four to five hours
Six to eight hours
Nine hours or more
16.
On average, how many patients do you see per day?
Under six
Seven to nine
10 to 12
More than 12
17.
Which best describes the time you are able to spend with patients?
My time with patients is often too limited
My time with patients is sometimes too limited
I generally have all the time I need to provide the highest standards of care
18.
To what extent do you have feelings of professional burnout about your career?
No such feelings
Rarely have these feelings
Sometimes have these feelings
Often have these feelings
Always have these feelings (significant burnout)
19.
Do you sense the dentist that you primarily work with exhibits signs of burnout?
Never
Sometimes seems to struggle with remaining enthusiastic about dentistry
Often seems to struggle with remaining enthusiastic about dentistry
Always seems to struggle with remaining enthusiastic about dentistry
20.
How often do you attend dental conferences during the span of a year for earning CE credits?
Seldom, if ever
Once a year
Twice a year
Three or more times
21.
Does your employer cover continuing education costs?
Yes, almost always
Yes, sometimes, often depending on the seminars presented
Very rarely
Never
22.
Are you actively involved in a study club or local component of the ADHA?
Yes
No
23.
Do you feel that the dental teams you are associated with support one another’s recommendations for treatment of patients?
Yes, very supportive
Yes, somewhat inconsistently
No
24.
How do you primarily obtain update knowledge on products, procedures and standards of care?
Online research
Dental journals or bookmarked dental websites (not accessed via generalized searches)
Dental conferences
Colleagues or employer
25.
Do any of the questions above prompt you to elaborate on any answer you have given above. Please feel free to do so below.