Occupational Stress and Coping Behaviours Among Dentists in Kerman, Iran

Dentists' Mental Health: Challenges, Supports, and Promising Practices

OBJECTIVES

The mental health of dentists, like all health professionals, is a growing concern. The objectives of this study were to identify the mental health challenges experienced by Canadian dentists and to describe the support needs and promising practices to better support them.

METHODS

This study used a mixed-methods case study design to gather data from semistructured qualitative interviews and a survey for triangulation.

RESULTS

Thirty-six dentists and 17 stakeholders participated in the interviews, and 397 dentists participated in the survey. The interview and survey data revealed that dentists have experienced several challenges personally, professionally, and socially. Around 44% of participating dentists experienced a wide range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Sex/gender shaped the mental health experiences of female dentists, who reported more stress related to caring responsibilities. They had a higher percentage of mental health issues (50%) than men (37%). Caretaking emerged as the main challenge in the social and personal domain, particularly for female dentists in both survey and interview findings. The dentists' role in practice was one of the most frequently reported professional challenges. While practice owners reported challenges with staff and practice management, associate dentists experienced difficulties with the lack of autonomy and conflicts with office managers and owners. Other challenges reported by participating dentists included patient care responsibilities, loneliness, and isolation. To address these challenges and their impact, dentists and stakeholders identified several support needs and promising practices, including increasing awareness about mental health issues, expanding existing mental health resources, incorporating mental health content in dental education, and encouraging engagement in organized dentistry, particularly for women.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of mental health challenges on dentists' career trajectory and productivity is an ongoing concern in Canada. Gender-specific strategies to support the mental health of dentists should be developed.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION STATEMENT

This study identified the mental health challenges of dentists in Canada to inform the development of interventions and strategies to promote the health and well-being of dentists and dental students. It also highlighted the need for clinicians, students, and individuals in leadership positions in institutions and professional organizations to recognize and consider the working conditions of dentists in various positions to avoid negative consequences on their mental health, reduce the attrition from the professional, and improve patient care outcomes.

Stress and occupational burnout levels among Palestinian dentists, and associated factors: A cross-sectional study in 2023

Introduction

Stress and burnout rank among the foremost dentistry-related concerns. Understanding stress and burnout among Palestinian dentists is crucial for developing targeted interventions and support systems. The study aimed to assess stress levels among dentists in Palestine, identify factors contributing to stress, and determine the relationship between stress and burnout in this professional group.

Method

ology: A cross-sectional study was conducted, employing a self-administered questionnaire to gather data from 271 dentists from March to June 2023. The Maslach burnout inventory was utilized to measure burnout across emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment dimensions, while the 10-item perceived stress scale was employed to measure stress levels.

Results

The findings revealed that 81% of Palestinian dentists reported experiencing moderate to high levels of stress. Emotional exhaustion was a prominent aspect of burnout, with 48% of participants reporting high levels. The multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between stress scores and female participants (p = 0.001), daily sleeping hours (p = 0.016), as well as emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment burnout subscales (p ≤ 0.001 for both).

Conclusion

The study revealed high-stress levels among Palestinian dentists, which were associated with sex and daily sleep hours. Furthermore, burnout was prevalent among dentists, particularly in terms of emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment, which were strongly associated with increased stress levels. The results underscore the need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms tailored to factors facing dentists, especially among females and those who receive inadequate sleep. The relationship between burnout and stress levels highlights the intricate connection between these phenomena.

Assessing burnout among early career faculty in US dental schools

BACKGROUND

Burnout is a condition characterized by emotional exhaustion, low personal accomplishment, and feelings of depersonalization that may evolve as a result of chronic occupational stress. Our goal for the study was to measure the degree of burnout among US dental school faculty with less than 10 years in academia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A mixed method approach to data collection was utilized for the study and included: A. A 15-items demographics survey B. Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) combined with the Area-Work life Scale (AWS) C. A survey open-ended response to respondent's general feelings about work environment.

RESULTS

MBI results from the data collected from 52 respondents indicate 7 or 13.46% of respondents are categorized with a 'burnout' profile. The most abundant categories recognized among this group are feelings of being "overextended" (34.62%) while 32.69% of the respondents self-report signs of being engaged. The results from this population indicate higher emotional exhaustion while levels of depersonalization are lower. The Area-Work life Scale (AWS) for this group indicates a higher sense of reward and control, while a lower frequency of workload balance and fairness are recognized. The data collected from the sample population suggest increased higher feelings of burnout at the 9-year mark, with increased administrative duties, and age range over 44 years.

CONCLUSION

Identifying factors in workload, work environment, and influences in the home that lead to burnout early in a faculty member's tenure and introducing reduction mechanisms are key to enhancing faculty production, satisfaction, and retention.

Levels of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Saudi Arabia's Medical and Dental Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Study Following the Covid-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND Healthcare providers, particularly in dentistry and medicine, experience high stress levels, exacerbated by factors like patient anxiety, clinical work, and continuous training. The COVID-19 pandemic has further increased these risks. This study aimed to assess depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) among dental and medical practitioners in Saudi Arabia, investigating influential factors on their psychological behavior. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this cross-sectional study conducted in July and August 2021, the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) was administered through a Google questionnaire. Data analysis involved stepwise mode modeling and bivariate analysis, with a significant P value <0.05, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. RESULTS The study included 376 dentists and 201 medical practitioners. Most worked more than four days a week, slept under six hours nightly, and were non-smokers. DAS scores indicated depression (51.7-57.4%), anxiety (50.7-58.2%), and stress (54.2-60.1%). Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed among younger, single, female, and lower-income participants. Higher DAS scores correlated with less sleep, extensive social media use, and smoking history. Socio-demographic factors were mostly non-significant for medical practitioners, except social media use. Sleep duration significantly impacted stress levels, while specialty, income, and marital status influenced depression CONCLUSIONS DAS levels were notably higher in dentists compared to medical practitioners, particularly regarding anxiety. The impact of socioeconomic factors varied, being more statistically significant for dentists.

Psychometric properties of the arabic version of the maslach burnout inventory-human services survey (MBI-HSS) among lebanese dentists

BACKGROUND

Dentists are at risk of burnout syndrome, which can have negative impacts on their work environment and productivity. Assessing burnout is crucial for maintaining the well-being and effectiveness of dentists in their profession. The present study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) among dentists.

METHODS

The original English version of the MBI-HSS was translated into Arabic, and then back-translated into English by experienced bilingual professionals. Lebanese dentists were asked to participate in the study between February and June 2019. Data collected included demographic information and items from the Arabic version of the MBI-HSS.

RESULTS

A total of 441 people participated in the study, of whom 58.3% were men. The mean age of the sample was 39.6 years (SD = 12.8), with a range of 23 to 68 years old. Approximately 60% of dentists were specialists. Cronbach's alphas were as follows: emotional exhaustion (alpha = 0.855), depersonalization (alpha = 0.823), and personal achievement (alpha = 0.667). The results of the test-retest reliability assessment demonstrated the strong reproducibility of the MBI-HSS [EE, ICC = 0.927 (0.845, 0.966), p-value < 0.0001; PA, ICC = 0.963 (0.921-0.983), p-value < 0.001; DP, ICC = 0.764 (0.497-0.889), p-value < 0.0001]. The exploratory factor analysis of the MBI-HSS yielded three psychometrically robust sub-domains representing dimensions of "emotional exhaustion," "depersonalization," and "personal achievement," which explained 57.8% of the scale's total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the 15-item model (excluding items 4, 5, 12, 13, 16, 20, and 22) was the most fitting for the data.

CONCLUSIONS

The Arabic version of the MBI-HSS scale demonstrated good psychometric properties in Lebanese dentists. However, it would be important to conduct further research to confirm its reliability and validity in other Arab countries.

Levels of perceived stress according to professional standings among dental surgeons of Karachi: a descriptive study

Background

Globally, occupational stress is a common finding among dentists. The present study aimed to assess prevalence of perceived stress among practicing dentists of Karachi, Pakistan, and assess the perceived stress levels according to the professional standing among dental surgeons.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sampling technique in which 200 dentists from Karachi were recruited. A self-constructed questionnaire was used to collect data, including demographic and professional backgrounds. Stress level assessment was performed using the perceived stress scale (PSS).

Results

The response rate was 78.5%. In general, a moderate stress level (mean PSS = 18.35 ± 5.417) appeared in the sample size of 157 dentists, and the prevalence of perceived stress was 86%. The level of perceived stress was significantly lower in groups including 40 years old and above (mean diff; p = − 0.197), Rupees 1 lac (100,000) and more of monthly income (mean diff; p = 0.029), 11 and more years of experience (mean diff; p = 0.001) and Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/Professor (mean diff; p = 0.035).

Conclusion

All groups representing the senior status of dentists have appeared with lower stress than groups representing the junior status of dentists. Exploratory studies are required to discover an effective coping strategy to deal with occupational stress among the junior dentists of Karachi.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-022-02272-5.

Analysis of occupational stress, burnout, and job satisfaction among dental practitioners

BACKGROUND: Dental practitioners can be prone to stress because of the long working hours, high patient expectations, and work environment. OBJECTIVE: To investigate dimensions of occupational stress among dental practitioners leading to burnout and to model its causality with job satisfaction. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted for five months. A sample of 302 practicing dental practitioners was selected using the consecutive sample technique. This sample included dental practitioners working in clinical and non-clinical departments of public and private sector universities as well as those doing private general practice. A self-administered structured questionnaire based on the Work Stress Questionnaire was sent using Survey Monkey. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Spearman correlation was applied between stress scores and job satisfaction. A Chi-square test was applied to look into the association between stress levels and different categories. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed. RESULT: The prevalence of overall occupational stress was high among dental practitioners (83.4%). Occupational stress was greatest in females (55.8%), dental practitioners in the private sector (55.7%), and general dental practitioners (GDPs) (47%). The overall prevalence of job satisfaction among dental professionals was 30%. Occupational stress was significantly associated with burnout and job dissatisfaction in dentistry. Stress levels and working hours were statistically and positively associated, whereas the association between stress levels and job satisfaction was inversely and significantly associated. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of occupational stress among dental practitioners was high and the level of job satisfaction was moderate. The model between these variables was well-fitted.

Revealing Distress and Perceived Stress among Dentists at the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Factor Analytic Study

Dentists' perceptions about the stressfulness of clinical practice are well-documented, but literature on perceived stress and psychological distress experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic is scarce. This study aims to explore the emotions and attitudes, and the socio-demographic, dental, and COVID-related factors that are associated with the emergence of perceived stress and psychological distress that have been experienced by dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic. General demographic and dental-related data, and specific questions measuring the potential factors regarding dental professionals' concerns and opinions about their professional circumstances during the pandemic, were electronically collected from 182 dental practitioners. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to assess whether dentists' emotions and attitudes during the pandemic measure the same construct: psychological distress, while linear regression models were built on the exploration of the effects of COVID-related factors on perceived stress and psychological distress. Facets of impulsiveness, lack of interest in social connections, emotional disengagement, mood swings, and acknowledgment of emotional exhaustion due to the pandemic, were measurements of the same construct and manifested in a singular factor: psychological distress. Two aspects, the fear of aerosol propagation and insecurities of financial status, increased the likelihood of the emergence of heightened levels of perceived stress and distress, while years spent in dental practice and age seemed to be protective factors against perceived stress and distress.

Dental Nurses' Mental Health in Germany: A Nationwide Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Several studies have found a rise in the rate of psychological discomfort among healthcare personnel since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between psychological variables of anxiety, depression, stress, avoidance, intrusion and hyperarousal and several factors among German dental nurses. For this poll, dental nurses were asked nationwide to take part via an online-based survey from July 2020 to January 2021. This survey gathered data on demographics, as well as psychological assessments through the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) instrument, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). The correlations between DASS-21/IES-R ratings and sociodemographic data were investigated using univariate analyses (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests). Single comparisons were performed using the Dunn-Bonferroni post hoc test if a relevant test result was significant followed by multiple linear regressions. Furthermore, 252 dental nurses took part in the study and showed overall normal or mild results of all psychological variables. Having immune-deficiency or chronic diseases, employment at a dental practice, being married, having no children and seeing the pandemic as a financial threat were presented as significant risk factors (p ≤ 0.05) with higher DASS-21 and IES-R scores. These results emphasize the aspects that must be considered to safeguard German dental nurses' mental wellbeing during the crisis.

Supporting dentists' health and wellbeing - a qualitative study of coping strategies in 'normal times'

Background Research has highlighted multiple determinants of dentists' health and wellbeing, and has raised concerns over workforce morale and retention. Limited research has been undertaken on possible solutions. Thus, the aim was to explore the coping strategies used or advocated by dentists to protect and support their health and wellbeing.Methods This qualitative study involved a purposive sample of dentists working in England taking account of age, gender, career stage, work sector, geographical area, position and route of entry to registration. Dentists were approached via gatekeepers across England to participate in semi-structured interviews. A topic guide, informed by past research, was used to guide the discourse. Informants' views were audio-recorded and field notes were made. Data were transcribed and analysed using an interpretative phenomenological approach to generate theory with the support of the framework methodology.Results Twenty dentists were interviewed from a range of backgrounds. Self-reported coping strategies included a range of strategies for 'taking control', including 'embracing self-care' and 'seeking professional support', while drawing on 'supportive personal and social networks'. Managing professional careers included diversifying through greater 'mixing' of NHS with private work, privatising, specialising, or combining dentistry with another role. Strengthening job security and facilitating diversity of experience remain important for supporting the health and wellbeing of dentists. Selling practices or, in the extreme, completely leaving the profession were considered practical options. At organisational level, building sustainable teams and transforming culture were advocated as important; while at systems level, reforming the NHS and bridging the gap between the profession and regulatory body were considered vital. Additionally, the need for strong professional leadership and wider societal debate was advocated as part of a whole systems approach to enable job satisfaction in delivering high-quality, patient-centred, evidence-based care in future.Conclusion While dentists demonstrated a range of coping mechanisms, multi-level action was advocated to enhance the health, wellbeing and retention of dentists. Systems reform at macro- and meso-levels is urgently advocated to enable fulfilling careers within dentistry, particularly for those at the front line of primary dental care in the public sector. Personal resilience alone will not suffice and recommendations for action are explored to avert a public health catastrophe. This is a time for reflection, debate and action.

The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dentists in Germany

Since the announcement of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak as a pandemic, several studies reported increased psychological distress among healthcare workers. In this investigation, we examined the association between psychological outcomes and various factors among German dentists. Dentists from all German federal states were invited to participate in this study through a self-administered online questionnaire between July and November 2020. This questionnaire collected information on demographics, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) instrument. The associations displayed between demographic and psychological outcomes of depression, anxiety, stress, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal were evaluated. Seven-hundred-and-thirty-two dentists participated in the survey and reported overall scores of (4.88 ± 4.85), (2.88 ± 3.57), (7.08 ± 5.04), (9.12 ± 8.44), (10.68 ± 8.88) and (10.35 ± 8.68) for depression, anxiety, stress, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal, respectively. For females, being between 50-59 years of age, being immune deficient or chronically ill, working at a dental practice, and considering the COVID-19 pandemic a financial hazard were reported as significant associated factors (p < 0.05) with higher DASS-21 and IES-R scores. These findings underline the aspects which need to be taken into attention to protect the mental wellbeing of dentists in Germany during the crisis.

Survey of Mental Health of Dentists in the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK

Aim

To assess the impact of work-related changes on the mental health (MH) of dentists during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.

Materials and Methods

Dentists involved in certain treatments, for example, high-speed drilling procedures, generate infectious aerosols. These Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs) are at the highest risk of transmission of coronavirus. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of dentists in the UK were restricted from providing treatments to reduce the risk of viral transmission. Some of the dentists providing urgent dental treatment were involved in AGPs. Significant and sudden changes in the delivery of dental care in the current pandemic may have impacted the MH of dentists. An online survey was conducted, using validated tools to measure the MH symptoms and stress. Pearson's chi-squared test of independence was used for statistical analysis.

Results

Overall, 123 dentists participated in the survey. The prevalence of anxiety-related symptoms was 71% (95% CI 0.62-0.78), depression-related symptoms was 60% (95% CI 0.51-0.68), and stress was 92% (95% CI 0.86-0.96). Dentists working in the independent sector had more psychological symptoms compared with those in the public sector (P = 0.014).

Conclusions

Working in the public sector appeared to have a protective effect. Almost all the dentists in this survey were experiencing MH symptoms and stress. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on dentists.

A Nationwide Survey on Working Hours and Working Environment among Hospital Dentists in Japan

Sustainable human resource is one of the main issues in healthcare delivery and the way hospital dentists work has a significant impact on oral and dental healthcare services. This study is the first large-scale nationwide survey aiming to investigate the working hours including the working environment among hospital dentists in Japan. A total of 2914 hospital dentists responded to self-administered questionnaires from general hospitals (GHs) and medical educational institutions (MEIs) across the country. Among full-time dentists, the younger generation (i.e., those in their 20s and 30s) of both male and female dentists working in GHs engage in over 40 h of in-hospital clinical practice per week, apart from their self-learning hours. In contrast, the middle-aged dentists (i.e., those in their 40s and 50s) at MEIs work for more than 50 h on average due to the added teaching and research responsibilities. In a multiple logistic regression model using "more than 60 h of work per week" as the dependent variable, higher ORs (Odds Ratios) were found in males (OR = 1.83, 95%CI 1.50-2.22), MEIs (OR = 1.92, 1.52-2.42), and individuals specializing in dental and oral surgery (OR = 1.85, 1.47-2.32). Task-shifting was requested by 22.6% of the respondents for preventive care and dental guidance. Only a few male dentists experienced taking a parental leave and the peak distribution of working hours was shorter for females working in GHs. The support for child-rearing in the work environment is still insufficient and a consensus on the involvement of male dentists in childcare is needed.

Assessment of Level of Perceived Stress and Sources of Stress Among Dental Professionals Before and During the COVID -19 Outbreak

CONTEXT

The recent spread of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in a number of mental health issues among healthcare workers and dentists are no exception to this due to their nature of work. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the level of perceived stress (PS) among Chhattisgarh dentists and identify the sources of stress before and during the COVID-19 crisis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online questionnaire-based survey was done to assess the level of PS using perceived stress scale (PSS) and sources of stress among dentists of Chhattisgarh state of India before the onset of COVID-19 in the state and immediately after the nationwide lockdown was announced owing to COVID-19 outbreak. Based on the type of work, the dental practitioners were categorized into three groups--dental practitioners (group A), dental academicians (group B), and dentists who are practitioners as well as academicians (group C). Frequency, percentages, and mean values were calculated and compared among different participant characteristics using Student's t test, paired t test, and one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

During phase I, mean PSS for dentists was 18.61 ± 6.87 which increased to 20.72 ± 1.95 in phase II. Group C dentists recorded higher mean PSS during phase I, while group A dentists reported higher mean PSS during phase II. No family time due to long working hours (90%) was the major stressor among the three groups of dentists during phase I and concern about getting infected (83.3%) was identified as the most frequent stressor during phase II followed by stress over financial implications.

CONCLUSION

Chhattisgarh dentists are reeling under psychological stress, which could be highly deteriorating to their mental health. Hence, concerned authorities should come forward and support the dentists by providing adequate guidelines, policies, and monetary support to them.

Occupational Stress among Orthodontists in Saudi Arabia

Aim:

The aim of this study was to identify potential occupational stressors among orthodontists practicing in Saudi Arabia, and to evaluate their relationship to personal and professional characteristics.

Materials and Methods:

Using a validated occupational stress assessment (OSA) questionnaire, demographic information and data pertaining to potential occupational stressors and professional characteristics of the participants were collected. The OSA questionnaire was adopted and modified based on Cooper et al. classification of potential stressors. To assure anonymity of the protocol, the respondents were given the OSA questionnaire at their clinical settings or scientific meetings and requested to return the filled copy of the questionnaire without any personal disclosures. The severity of stressors was assessed using a five-point Likert scale, and individual scores were summed to obtain the overall severity score. The collected data were coded, tabulated, and analyzed using statistical software.

Results:

Samples of 253 orthodontists were evaluated with a response rate of 82.6% (209) and a higher proportion of male participants (75.1%). The mean severity score for stress was higher among orthodontists of age less than 30 years when compared with those more than 50 years of age (F = 3.486; P = 0.017). Similarly, the mean severity score was higher among orthodontists who had completed their residency program in Saudi Arabia, Arab countries, and Asian countries (F = 5.425; P < 0.0001). Further categorization of the stressors based on patient-, time-, staff-, work-, referral-, and income-related factors were carried out. Although patient-related factors (mean = 3.38) were considered the most stressful, referral- and income-related factors (mean = 2.39) were considered the least stressful.

Conclusion:

Pronounced variation was evident in assessing the potential stressors among orthodontists. Nevertheless, time management and proper patient education can address the most concerning stressors among orthodontists in Saudi Arabia.

Assessment of Stress among Doctors of Dental Medicine

Introduction

The workplace can be a source of stress. One of the most stressful professions is the profession of doctor of dental medicine (dentist). Multiple forms of stressors lead to such occupational stress.

Objective

The research objective was to examine stress levels among dentists in the 25 to 45 year age group.

Materials and Methods

This cross sectional study included 105 doctors of dental medicine throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, aged between 25 and 45 years. The research was conducted by means of a confidential on-line survey. All participants signed the informed consent, and voluntarily filled out the survey form. The research used the PERCEIVED STRESS SCALE-PSS 10. The statistical analysis used the IBM Statistics SPSS v.21 statistics packages and Microsoft Excel 2010. Descriptive statistics, X² test, and T-test were also used.

Results

Of the total number of respondents, n=105, 66 (63%) of them were female and 39 (37%) male respondents. The mean median value of the score was 23 (Mean = 23.080), as a result of which we can conclude that the respondents in the 25-45 year age population group that participated in this study showed a high level of stress based on the completed questionnaire and the answers received from the respondents.

Conclusion

The estimated level of stress has been shown to be high in both genders, with no statistically significant difference between genders.

Effect of Occupational and Personal Stress on Job Satisfaction, Burnout, and Health: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of College Teachers in Punjab, India

Aim:

This research is an attempt to gauge the effect of stress on job satisfaction, burnout and health that prevails among faculty members of select public and private colleges in Punjab, India.

Materials and Methods:

The study uses cross-sectional research methods to collect 412 samples by stratified random sampling. It uses scales like the socio-demographic questionnaire (SDQ), Chronic Burden Scale (CBS), Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) to collect data. The data were analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics software, revealing that college teachers are facing the consequences of both occupational and personal stress.

Results:

The study revealed significant impact of occupational and personal stress on burnout, job satisfaction, and health of college teachers.

Conclusion:

The result of the study found that organizational environment significantly affects stress level in college teachers. Hence, it is suggested that a humane policy related to higher education is need of the hour to protect interests of teachers which share responsibility of carving out future of the country.

Improving Efficiency in Dental School Clinics by Computerizing a Manual Task

Background: We computerized a formerly manual task of requesting dental faculty to conduct quality checks on student providers during patient encounters. We surveyed student providers who experienced the manual and computerized versions of the faculty request process for one year each. Methods: All surveys were emailed to student providers and there were no reminders or incentives to complete the survey. Simple descriptive data were used to present the results of the study and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was provided by the University of Michigan Medical School Committee on Human Research (HUM00131029) on 1 June 2018 Results: The response rate for the survey was 47.1%. A total of 16.1% of student providers reported that the Faculty Request System (FRS) helped them save 1-10 min per clinic session, 22.3% said it saved them 11-20 min, 29.5% said it saved them 21-30 min, 21.4% said it saved 31-40 min, 2.67% said it saved 41-50 min, and 7.14% said it saved more than 50 min per clinic session. Regarding how student providers used the additional time they gained from the FRS, 96.4% said they used some of the time to write up their notes, 88.4% said they used some of the time to discuss treatments with their patients, 83.9% said they engaged in general conversation with their patients, 81.3% said they took care of other patient-related duties, while 1.8% said they had less time available after the implementation of the FRS. Conclusions: The FRS enabled student providers to remain with their patients for almost a full 30 min more (during a 3 h session). This paper describes several benefits experienced by student providers, and the resulting impacts on patient experiences.

Work stress, health behaviours and coping strategies of dentists from Cluj-Napoca, Romania

BACKGROUND

The recognition of work stressors and their links to sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviours and coping strategies is important for enhancing the working conditions of dentists.

AIM

The aim of our study was to identify and rank work stressors in dentists from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and to investigate their potential links to sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviours and coping strategies.

STUDY DESIGN

A questionnaire based on the Work Stress Inventory for Dentists (WSID) was delivered to a cross-sectional sample of 250 dentists working in six neighborhoods across Cluj-Napoca, Romania, as well as at the local Faculty of Dentistry. We collected and analysed information on sociodemographic characteristics, work stressors, health behaviours and coping strategies.

RESULTS

Time and scheduling pressure, concerns about the future and pay-related work stressors were found to rank highest among the categories of work stressors investigated. Higher work stress was significantly linked to higher workloads, lower job satisfaction, poorer eating and exercise habits, higher work pain and discomfort, lower perceived health and less sleep. Job satisfaction was the single best predictor variable of work stress scores. The most frequently used coping strategy to deal with work stress was resting and taking breaks. Only one-quarter of respondents used active coping strategies.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that work stress is linked to a number of detrimental attitudes in dentists and that there is room for dentists to make lifestyle improvements.