The professional role and responsibilities of dental hygienists and their association: a survey of the Maryland Dental Hygienists' Association

Abstract

This project focused on the major organization of dental hygienists in the United States today, the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA). To date little had been done to determine how dental hygienists view their professional role and responsibilities, and the role of their Association. Therefore the present study involved examining Association policy statements, written purposes, and administrative structure; developing a questionnaire; and administering the questionnaire to a sample of the ADHA. It was hoped that the survey would reflect the correlation, if any, between the stated purposes and policy statements of the Association and the beliefs of the rank and file membership. It was also hoped that the survey would reflect the respondents views of the professional role and responsibilities of dental hygienists. The survey instrument was administered to a random sample of the Maryland constituent of the ADHA and their responses are the subject of this paper.