Development and Validation of the Patient-Centered Communication Competency Scale for Dental Hygienists

Background/Objectives: Communication skills are a core professional competency for dental hygienists. Accordingly, it is vital to develop a systematic scale that can objectively predict the relationship among communication skills and job satisfaction and various psychosocial factors. This study aimed to develop and validate the Patient-Centered Communication Competency Scale (PCCS) in dental hygienists for dental health service. Methods: Initial items were generated through a literature review, expert content validity assessment, and a preliminary survey. An online survey was conducted with 400 dental hygienists working in dental clinics and hospitals. Construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), while reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha. Results: The preliminary 38-item scale was refined through five rounds of EFA, resulting in an 11-item scale with three subscales: Assertiveness, Empathy, and Respect. CFA results indicated good model fit (χ²/df = 1.749, RMR = 0.027, RMSEA = 0.061, GFI = 0.941, NFI = 0.911, IFI = 0.960, CFI = 0.959, TLI = 0.949), demonstrating strong convergent and discriminant validity. The PCCS also demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.862) and criterion validity, confirmed by its positive correlation with self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Conclusions: The proposed PCCS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing and improving dental hygienists' communication skills, with potential applications in training programs and communication competency research in dental settings.