Factors affecting on the leaving job and reentry for the Japanese dental hygienist

Abstract Background Working dental hygienists is not sufficient. About 40% licensed dental hygienist are leaving their professional jobs. Re-entry of leaving dental hygienist is expected to compensate the unbalance of demand and supply. The purpose of this study was to identify the obstacles for re-entry of leaving dental hygienists and propose the countermeasures for supporting re-entry Methods The Japan Dental Hygienists Association has been conducted survey of the Employment Status of Japanese dental hygienist every 5 years since 1981. Questionnaires were distributed for all members of the Japan Dental Hygienists Association. Among the 94 items, following eight specific items were used for analysis: 1. The reason of leaving the job. 2. How long have you been leaving the job? 3. Willingness to reentry. 4. How do you find your work for re-entry? 5. Is there any obstacle for the reentry? 6. What is your obstacle for reentry? 7. Do you need lecture course for reentry? 8. What kind of lecture course contents do you want to attend? Results Questioners were distributed for 16,113 members of Appeases Dental hygienist Association, and 8,780 were responded (collection rate: 54.5%). By log-linear analysis, for the reason of leaving the job, dissatisfaction with work content and marriage were significant in age groups ≤29 and 30-39. Child birth / child rearing were significant in age groups of ≤29, 30-39 and 40-49. Payment were significant in 30-39 and 40-49.Child birth / rearing and working hours were most important impact on the leaving job and obstacle for reentry. In this study, number of dental hygienist who leave the job by child birth / rearing was highest. Conclusion Workplace improvement including flexible working time may be most important factors or the reentry for the dental hygienist with leaving jobs. Social support system is indispensable to improve women's working environment.