Influences of Social-Psychological Constructs in Predicting Taiwanese Pro-Environmental Behaviors.

A value-belief-norm (VBN) model for understanding the pro-environmental behaviors (PEB) of Taiwanese was developed. This formulated VBN model included personal values, openness to change, awareness of consequences, personal norms, social norms, and PEB. Ecological world view and ascription of responsibility were excluded to develop a tighter model. A total of 1079 completed questionnaires were collected and structural equation modelling was utilized, where standard estimates and coefficients of determination validated the formulated VBN model's effectiveness. Each construct served its role as the mediator between its distal variable and outcome variable, with a substantial level of predictive accuracy, and 74.3% of the variance in PEB was accounted for. Further findings found that mature individuals had a stronger tendency towards awareness of consequences due to personal values; the young had a stronger tendency towards personal norms due to awareness of consequences; men had a stronger tendency towards personal norms due to awareness of consequences; and women had a weaker tendency due to a greater emphasis on altruism. Future interventions, such as sharing of personal pro-environmental lifestyles verbally or through social media, periodically decluttering personal items and maintaining a minimalist lifestyle, where these personal norms are in line with collective social norms, could help to strengthen PEB.

Overview of dental education system and gender distribution of undergraduate dental students in Taiwan.

Abstract Background/purpose: The gender distribution of dentists in Taiwan has been dominated by male dentists for a long time. This study analyzed preliminarily the appearance of the current dental education system and the gender distribution of undergraduate dental students. Materials and methods: This study used documentary analysis and secondary data analysis to survey mainly the current dental education system and the gender distribution of undergraduate dental students in Taiwan. Results: There were a total of 2474 dental students and 394 dental graduates in Taiwan in 2021. The numbers of male students (1435, 58.00%) and male graduates (207, 52.54%) were higher than those of female students (1039, 42.00%) and female graduates (187, 47.46%). The numbers of male dental students in the northern (629), central (428), and southern (378) regions were all higher than those of female dental students (423, 373, and 243, respectively). The chi-square test indicated the significantly higher proportion of male dental students in the northern and southern regions (P < 0.01). Besides, there were a total of 15,857 registered dentists. The number of male dentists (10,997, 69.35%) was higher than that of female dentists (4,860, 30.65%). Compared with population, the chi-square test showed the significantly higher proportion of male dental students and male registered dentists (all P-values < 0.001). Conclusion: In Taiwan, the dental education system must promote female students' interest in dentistry and elevate the proportion of female dental supervisors to increase the proportion of female dental students and female dentists in the future.

Correlation between the beverage serving activities and the dental use of health care resources of National Health Insurance for common oral diseases.

Background/purpose: : Taiwanese get use to drinking hand-shaken beverages. However, excessive sugar intake is strongly associated with the occurrence of dental caries. This study evaluated the correlation between the beverage serving activities and the dental use of National Health Insurance (NHI) for common oral diseases in 2016. Materials and methods: Data on the population, the beverage serving activities, and the dental records of NHI were obtained from the related websites of government. These data were divided by cities and counties to investigate the beverage serving activities and the dental use of NHI for common oral diseases in 2016. Results: In Taiwan, the value of beverage consumption per person had a moderate to high positive correlation with the dental use rate, the number of out-patient visits per 1,000 people, and the medical expenses per person for common oral diseases. For dental caries, diseases of pulp & periapical tissues, and gingivitis & periodontal diseases, their Pearson's r values were 0.52-0.61, 0.18-0.40, and 0.58-0.65, respectively. These results indicate that the higher the beverage consumption per capita, the higher the dental use per capita. Conclusion: There is a long-term benefit for oral health and systemic health through reducing or avoiding unnecessary excessive sugar intake. Therefore, from a cost-effectiveness viewpoint, Taiwan government should develop a better oral health care policy including a health education strategy of appropriate sugar intake to prevent dental caries and other non-communicable diseases in Taiwanese people.

A retrospective study of the admission ways in the School of Dentistry of National Taiwan University from 2000 to 2021.

Background/purpose: In Taiwan, dental schools have gradually become a popular choice for high school graduates to enter in the universities. This study mainly analyzed the various admission ways to enroll students into the School of Dentistry of National Taiwan University (SODNTU) from 2000 to 2021. Materials and methods: The data on the numbers of enrollees and those enrollees who had completed registration in the SODNTU from 2000 to 2021 were available online to the public and included in this study. Results: The total number of enrollees in the SODNTU over the past 22 years was 764 with an annual mean of 34.73. The registration rate ranged from 90.91% to 100% with a mean registration rate of 96.86% from 2000 to 2021. The examination admission, individual application admission, and numerous stars initiatives admission were the three main admission ways to enroll students into the SODNTU from 2000 to 2021 with a total of 662 enrollees (86.65% of a total of 764 enrollees). The number (proportion) of enrollees through examination admission showed a decreasing trend year by year from 26 (78.79%) in 2000 to 15 (45.45%) in 2021. On the contrary, those enrollees through individual application admission and numerous stars initiatives admission showed an increasing trend year by year from 4 (12.12%) in 2000 to 14 (42.42%) in 2021. Conclusion: Although the examination admission is still the predominant admission way, the individual application admission and numerous stars initiatives admission gradually play pivotal roles to enroll students into the SODNTU recently.

Overview of dental assistants in Taiwan from 2009 to 2021.

Background/purpose: The development of dental assistants in Taiwan has been over a century. This study explored mainly the profile of dental assistants and the occupation survey about them in Taiwan from 2009 to 2021. Materials and methods: This study used the documentary analysis and secondary data analysis to survey mainly the changes of manpower of dental assistants in Taiwan from 2009 to 2021, and the association of their wages with economic indicators. Results: According to occupation survey from government, the number of dental assistants increased from 4315 in 2009-7909 in 2021. When estimated based on the data of the United States showing 1.86 dental assistants per dentist, the estimated number of dental assistants increased from 21,113 in 2009 to 28,698 in 2020. Although the mean monthly wage of dental assistants increased from 22,127 NT dollars in 2009 to 26,795 NT dollars in 2021, the proportion of the mean annual wage of dental assistants to the gross domestic product per capita decreased from 47.43% in 2009 to 34.78% in 2021. Moreover, the proportion of the mean monthly wage of dental assistants to the basic monthly wage of labor decreased from 128.05% in 2009 to 111.65% in 2021. Conclusion: In Taiwan, although the manpower and work content of dental assistants are important for dentists, they usually work with a low wage from 2009 to 2021. It is imperative to continue to promote the certification system for dental assistants to improve the professionalism and the wage structure of this occupation.

Occupational radiation exposure for various medical radiation workers, especially the dental radiation workers, in Taiwan from 2013 to 2020.

Background/purpose: The development of dental radiology in Taiwan has been over a century. This study explored mainly the profile of dental radiation workers and their occupational radiation exposure in Taiwan from 2013 to 2020. Materials and methods: This study used the secondary data analysis to survey mainly the changes of manpower of the dental radiation workers and their occupational radiation exposure in Taiwan from 2013 to 2020. Results: The number of monitored dental radiation workers increased from 678 in 2013 to 770 in 2020. However, the proportion of monitored dental radiation workers to the total monitored medical radiation workers decreased from 4.29% in 2013 to 3.67% in 2020. Although the number of monitored dental radiation workers increased, the number of the measurably exposed dental radiation workers decreased from 2013 to 2020. The annual collective exposure dose fluctuated from 5.21 man-Sv to 15.47 man-Sv, but it showed a decreasing trend. Furthermore, the mean annual effective exposure dose of total monitored dental radiation workers (0.01-0.02 mSv) and that of the measurably exposed dental radiation workers (0.15-1.11 mSv) were relatively low among various medical radiation workers. In overall, the proportion of medical radiation technologists to dentists varied from 0.41 to 0.45. Conclusion: Although the number of monitored dental radiation workers increase, the number of the measurably exposed dental radiation workers, the proportion of the measurably exposed dental radiation workers to the total monitored dental radiation workers, and the annual collective exposure dose for monitored dental radiation workers decrease from 2013 to 2020.

The current dental school admissions: An overview of the admission process and the geographical distribution of dental school enrollees in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: There is no specific admission system for dentistry in Taiwan. The aims of this study were to describe and analyze the current admission processes for entry into dental schools through the university admission system and to compare the geographical distribution of dental school enrollees. Materials and methods: All seven dental schools of general universities in Taiwan were included to analyze the admission protocols in 2019 and 2020. All data of dental enrollment quotas and dental school enrollees presented in this study were collected from information available to the public on the related websites. Results: The total dental enrollment quotas via the university admission system were 381 in 2019 and 397 in 2020. Those admitted via the special program for indigenous peoples and offshore island peoples were both 27 in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The main dental school admission way was individual application, and the main providers of dental enrollment quotas were northern dental schools and private dental schools. In addition, dental school enrollees were concentrated in the northern region, municipalities, and cities in Taiwan. Conclusion: Further advancement is needed to expand participation and broaden the sociodemographic profile of dental school applicants. The dental schools would benefit from a long-term prospective study about the correlation of admission methods with students' performance in dental schools. The special program is impacting the equality of admission opportunities. It is necessary to track the practice dynamics of these dental school graduates who were enrolled via the special program as a basis for policy adjustment.

Comparison of past and current dental school curricula for dental students of National Taiwan University.

Background/purpose: The complete curriculum schedule of the School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University (NTU) appeared in 1960. This study aimed to understand the development of dental education in Taiwan by comparing the past and current dental school curricula of NTU. Materials and methods: This study collected the 1960, 1990 and 2020 dental school curriculum schedules for dental students of NTU from the related websites and used the documentary and secondary data analyses to further compare the obtained data. Results: The number of credits for all the curricula offered by NTU to undergraduate dental students decreased from 264 in 1960 to 243 in 1990 and further to 242 in 2020 with a total decrease of 22 credits by 8.3%. The number (proportion) of credits of medicine courses decreased from 102 (38.6%) in 1960 to 52 (21.4%) in 1990, and then increased to 60 (24.8%) in 2020, with a total decrease of 42 credits by 41.2%, while those of dentistry courses increased from 70 (26.5%) in 1960 to 122 (50.2%) in 1990 and further to 132 (54.5%) in 2020, with a total increase of 62 credits by 88.6%. Among them, clinical practice of dentistry had the greatest growth with a total increase of 42 credits by 233.3%. Conclusion: The increase of dentistry courses and the decrease of medicine courses are the general trends for modern dental education. The dental school of NTU has the ability to provide more refined dentistry courses to catch the world trend of dental education.

Tuition and fees for medical education and dental education in Taiwan from 1993 to 2021.

Background/purpose: In traditional Taiwan's society, attending medical school or dental school is usually the greatest aspiration of our students. This study tried to explore the evolution of the tuition and fees for medical education and dental education in Taiwan from 1993 to 2021. Materials and methods: This study used the secondary data analysis to survey the changes in the actual amount of the tuition and fees from 1993 to 2021, and the association of tuition and fees with economic indicators. Results: The one-year tuition and fees for medical education increased from 39,020 to 95,200 NT dollars in 1993 to 78,327 and 135,829 NT dollars in 2021 for public and private medical schools, respectively. On the other hand, the one-year tuition and fees for dental education increased from 35,700 to 87,100 NT dollars in 1993 to 71,607 and 130,682 NT dollars in 2021 for public and private dental schools, respectively. Because different increase rates between public and private schools, the gap between tuition and fees per gross domestic product per capita (capita GDP) and those per basic annual salary of labor for public and private schools was shortened year by year. Conclusion: In addition to allowing reasonable increases of tuition and fees, the government should also consider to let the disadvantaged students pay less tuition and fees, assist disadvantaged students through school loans, school grants or scholarships, and improve the opportunities for disadvantaged students to enroll in medical and dental schools through the admission system.

Dental education and special dental practitioner-cultivating system in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period.

Background/purpose: During the Japanese colonial period, Taiwan had no dental school but had a medical school. This study explored the dental education and research activities in the medical school and special dentist qualification system in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. Materials and methods: This study analyzed the "related incidents and documents of dental education and research and dentist qualification system in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period" and explored the dental education and research activities in the medical school and special dentist qualification system in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. Results: In 1914, Taiwan Government Medical School hired Dr. Kaname Ansawa, the earliest dental teacher in Taiwan, to teach dental courses in the medical school. In 1918, the "Theory of Dentistry" was considered to be the first independent "Dentistry" subject in the medical school. In 1936, the Faculty of Medicine of Taipei Imperial University listed "Dentistry & Oral Surgery" as an independent graduation examination subject. For dentist qualification system, a qualified physician who had finished dental courses and training could apply for a dental specialty license to work as a dentist. Taiwan Government Medical School (Dentistry) Research Department was the earliest department involved in the teaching and research of dentistry in the medical school and was also an educational institution for cultivating dental practitioners in Taiwan. Conclusion: In the Japanese colonial period, although no dental school was established in Taiwan, there were rich dental education and research activities in the medical school and a special dentist qualification system.

Development of dental education for medical students in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period.

Background/purpose: During the Japanese colonial period, Taiwan had a medical school education system for cultivating physicians, but did not have a dental school education system for cultivating "real" dentists. In this investigation, we collected and analyzed the historical documents related to dental education to study the development of dental education for medical students in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. Materials and methods: This study mainly analyzed the changes in the development of dental education for medical students in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period through the collection and sorting of relevant historical materials. Results: During each stage of Taiwan's medical education system in the Japanese colonial period, the medical school offered compulsory dental courses for medical students, including theory and clinical practice of dentistry. Although there was no specific dental subject included in the graduation examination, evidence showed that the content of dentistry was covered by the subject of Surgery in the examination. Moreover, Taipei Imperial University established the Medical Faculty in 1936. Its curriculum increased the weight of dentistry and added the "Dentistry & Oral Surgery" as a graduation examination subject, indicating the importance of dental education for medical students in that period. Conclusion: In the Japanese colonial period, although there was no dental school for cultivating dentists in Taiwan, there was still dental education for medical students to let them understand the Dentistry and to enable them to become dental practitioners. This can be regarded as a workaround in the medical and healthcare policy.