Objective: This study evaluated levels of demand and willingness-to-pay for oral hygiene service among beneficiaries and supervisors in long-term home care service facilities to acquire data for activation of oral hygiene service under long-term home care insurance.

Methods: This study is a mixed methods research combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies. 78 long-term home care facilities in Wonju, Gangwon Province were selected through convenience sampling, then contacted via phone, fax or visit to obtain permission. Subjects comprised 21 supervisors and 126 beneficiaries from 28 facilities (33.9%). Analysis was conducted using PASW Statistics ver. 23.0(SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). In-depth interview data, transcribed in accordance with content analysis method, were analyzed after being grouped, compared and categorized in keeping with the research objective.

Results: 94 percent of beneficiaries did not know about the oral hygiene service system. 56 percent did not demand oral hygiene service and 69 percent were unwilling to pay for it. 61 percent among those with high ''dependency on brushing (denture care)'' demanded oral hygiene service, and 42 percent were willing to pay. 70 percent were willing to pay even if qualification for the insurance was to be ''recipients of national basic livelihood allowance'' and the costs of home care were for paid for by the ''country.'' Meanwhile, 57 percent of supervisors were aware of the oral hygiene service system. 71 percent of them demanded oral hygiene service, but not all 71 percent were willing to pay for labor, supplies and equipments within the limits of the current insurance fee. Supervisors stated that policies must be amended to allow for provision of oral hygiene service to elderly seniors cared at home, expand its beneficiaries and enhance their awareness regarding the service.

Conclusion: In order to activate oral hygiene service under long-term home care insurance, procedure and method of oral hygiene service must be simplified and enhanced so that supervisors may provide the service. The service must be made known to the care workers (facility staffs) first during their training and subsequently advertised. Beneficiaries should be informed of the service through their care workers and allowed to access the service.

Key words: Dental hygienist, Home care service, Long-term care, Oral hygiene, Visiting nurse