Effect on Communication Ability of Dental Hygienist in Problem-Solving Ability: Focusing on the Modulatory Effect of Cooperative Self-Efficacy

Purpose: This study investigated the effect on the communication ability of dental hygienists on problem-solving ability, focusing on the modulatory effect of cooperative self-efficacy. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from November 4 to December 20, 2019, and it involved 213 dental hygienists working in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions in Korea. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 program. The general characteristics were analyzed using frequency analysis, the average score of each variable was analyzed using means and standard deviation, and the relevance of each variable was analyzed using correlation analysis. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to investigate the modulatory effect of cooperative self-efficacy. Results: Communication ability (p<.01), cooperative self-efficacy (p<.01), and problem-solving ability (p<.01) of dental hygienists showed significant correlations.As a result of cooperative self-efficacy analysis, in case of positive self-efficacy, the effect of communication ability on problem-solving ability was significant (p<.01). Cooperative self-efficacy was significant, as it partially mediated the relationship between communication ability and problem-solving ability (p<.001). Conclusion: This study provides basic data for improvingproblem-solving ability and effective communication with patients and subjects by improving the cooperative self-efficacy of dental hygienists.