Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the effect of communication competence on the organizational effectiveness in dental hygienists.
Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 248 dental hygienists in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggido from November 1 to 30, 2014. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects(4 items), job characteristics(10 items), communication competence(49 items), organizational commitment(15 items), job satisfaction(16 items), and turnover intention(5 items). The instrument for communication competence and organizational commitment was done by Likert 5 points scale. Data were analyzed by t test, one way ANOVA, stepwise multiple regression test, and post-hoc Scheffe test using SPSS 18.0 program Results: The average of communication competence was 3.49(±0.28). Of the sub-factors of communication competence, interpretational competence had the highest score of 3.65(±0.33) followed by self-presentation 3.50(±0.49), message conversion 3.50(±0.47), role performance 3.44(±0.37), and goal setting competence 3.28(±0.60). There were significant effects in the organizational commitment including workplace(dental clinic=1, =-0.254), weekly average working hours(≦40 hours=1, =0.182), role performance(=0.163), self-presentation(=0.144), goal setting competence(=0.130), and position(head=1, =0.137). There were significants effects in the job satisfaction including position(head=1, =0.217), weekly average working hours(≦40 hours=1, =0.204), education level(graduate school=1, =0.184), job career(3～6 years=1, =-0.181), goal setting competence(=0.194), and interpretational competence( =0.124).
Conclusions: The communication competence of the dental hygienists showed a partial effect on the organizational effectiveness. In order to improve the organizational commitment and job satisfaction and the turnover intention, a variety of efforts must be taken and focused on goal setting competence, role performance, self-presentation, and interpretational competence.