국내 치과의사의 지역별 고령화 추세에 대한 연구

초록

Objectives: Rational planning and efficient management of the oral health workforce is essential forthe promotion of oral health. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the distribution characteristics ofdentists, using public big data. The results of this study could contribute to the development of theoral healthcare policies proposal and desirable dental services. Methods: The data of dentists working in medical institutions were analyzed by type and regionfrom 2010 to 2020 using the Korean Statistical Information Service. Python version 3.10 was em ployed for data analysis and visualization, and the matplotlib and seaborn libraries were used to cre ate graphs. Results: The average age of dentists working in medical institutions was 47.4 years in 2020 ― anincrease by 5.3 years compared to the 2010 data. When considering different regions, the averageage of dentists in major cities, including Seoul (49.7 years), was higher than in their surroundingsareas (47.2-49.5 years). Conclusions: A continuous increase in the average age of dentists over the past 10 years and a dif ference in age distribution among different regions were observed. This is probably because newdental clinics are opening predominantly in smaller cities. Therefore, institutional support for newdental clinics in these areas is necessary to promote high-quality dental healthcare within regions. Additionally, oral healthcare services to vulnerable populations should be provided through a nationaloral healthcare policy utilizing these local dental clinics.

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