Work Experiences of Male Dental Hygienists: A qualitative study

Purpose: The percentage of men entering the dental hygiene profession has increased from less than 1% of the workforce in 1999 to 6.1% in 2020. However, little is known about the experiences of male dental hygienists. The purpose of this study was to explore and better understand the experiences of male dental hygienists.Methods: A qualitative phenomenological research design was used with a purposive sample of male dental hygienists (n=19) recruited via social media groups. Virtual focus groups were conducted and participants were asked open-ended questions to assist in data collection. The data analysis was conducted both manually and with qualitative analysis software. Two investigators independently identified emergent themes and a sub-set of participants participated in member checking of the themes identified.Results: The following major themes were identified: stereotype, "not just because I'm a guy, I'm a dental hygienist," discrimination, reverse discrimination/special treatment, and bringing balance to the work setting. In addition to the major themes, there were also several minor themes identified with the most common being the need for increased male representation in the profession.Conclusion: The findings of this study were consistent with nursing literature regarding the experience of males in female dominated professions. These findings may serve to enhance the positive experiences of being a male in dental hygiene and highlight the need to address the negative experiences such as discrimination to encourage more men to join the profession. Minor themes suggested the need to enhance male representation to make the profession more appealing to men.