Job satisfaction of registered dental practitioners

The document attached has been archived with permission from the Australian Dental Association. An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Background: This study was designed to measure job satisfaction among registered clinical dentists so as to identify issues which may influence recruitment and retention of dentists in active clinical practice. Methods: A questionnaire measuring dimensions of job satisfaction was mailed to a stratified random sample of 80 private and 80 public sector dentists selected from the 1999 Victorian Dental Register. Results: An adjusted response rate of 60 per cent was achieved (n=87). Analyses showed significant differences (ANOVA; p<0.05) in levels of satisfaction for various dimensions of job satisfaction by gender, age group and practice type. Differences in job satisfaction between male and female dentists related to the personal time dimension. Differences in satisfaction between dentists of different age groups were attributable to six dimensions: relationships with colleagues, relationships with patients, relationships with staff, personal time, community and administrative responsibilities. Differences between levels of satisfaction among private and public dentists related to the autonomy, relationships with patients, pay and resources dimensions. Conclusion: There are various dimensions of job satisfaction that may be pertinent to issues influencing recruitment and retention of dentists. Differences that exist between levels of job satisfaction among private and public sector dentists, between male and female dentists and dentists of different age groups need to be addressed in order to improve recruitment and retention rates of dentists in active clinical practice in different sectors of the dental care system.L. Luzzi, A.J. Spencer, K. Jones and D. Teusne

Disability weights for the burden of oral disease in South Australia

BACKGROUND: Australian burden of disease estimates appeared inconsistent with the reported repetitive and ubiquitous nature of dental problems. The aims of the study were to measure the nature, severity and duration of symptoms for specific oral conditions, and calculate disability weights from these measures. METHODS: Data were collected in 2001–02 from a random sample of South Australian dentists using mailed self-complete questionnaires. Dentists recorded the diagnosis of dental problems and provided patients with self-complete questionnaires to record the nature, severity and duration of symptoms using the EuroQol instrument. Data were available from 378 dentists (response rate = 60%). RESULTS: Disability weights were highest for pulpal infection (0.069), caries (0.044) and dentinal sensitivity (0.040), followed by denture problems (0.026), periodontal disease (0.023), failed restorations (0.019), tooth fractures (0.014) and tooth wear (0.011). Aesthetic problems had a low disability weight (0.002), and both recall/maintenance care and oral hygiene had adjusted weights of zero. CONCLUSIONS: Disability weights for caries (0.044), periodontal disease (0.023) and denture problems (0.026) in this study were higher than comparable oral health conditions in the Australian Burden of Disease and Injury Study (0.005 for caries involving a filling and 0.014 for caries involving an extraction, 0.007 for periodontal disease, and 0.004 for edentulism). A range of common problems such as pulpal infection, failed restorations and tooth fracture that were not included in the Australian Burden of Disease and Injury Study had relatively high disability weights. The inclusion of a fuller range of oral health problems along with revised disability weights would result in oral health accounting for a larger amount of disability than originally estimated

Inequalities in access to and utilization of dental care in Brazil: an analysis of the Telephone Survey Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases (VIGITEL 2009)

Abstract published in English and Portuguese English title: Inequalities in access to and utilization of dental care in Brazil: an analysis of the Telephone Survey Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases (VIGITEL 2009)This study aimed to evaluate access to and utilization of various types of dental services by individuals 18 years or older in Brazil's State capitals. We gathered data from the Telephone Survey Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases (VIGITEL) in 2009 (n = 54,367). More than half of the target population reported the need for dental treatment in the previous year; of these, 15.2% lacked access to dental services when needed. The private sector provided 61.1% of all dental appointments. The share of services provided by the Unified National Health System (SUS) ranged from 6.2% in the Federal District to 35.2% in Boa Vista, in the North. Multivariate Poisson regression models showed higher prevalence of dental treatment needs among women, middle-aged adults, and individuals with more schooling. Lack of access to dental care was more frequent among women, young adults, less educated individuals, and among lightener-skinned blacks. Our findings highlight sharp inequalities in the use of and access to dental services in the Brazilian State capitals.= Pretendeu-se descrever o padrão de utilização, acesso e tipo de serviço odontológico utilizado por adultos e idosos das capitais brasileiras segundo características sociodemográficas. Foram utilizados dados do Sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL) de 2009 (n = 54.367). Mais da metade da população revelou necessitar de tratamento odontológico no último ano e desta, 15,2% não conseguiram atendimento. O uso de serviço odontológico privado foi de 61,1%. A participação do Sistema Único de Saúde variou de 6,2% no Distrito Federal a 35,2% em Boa Vista. Análises multivariáveis de Poisson revelaram que as maiores prevalências de percepção de necessidades de tratamento ocorreram nas mulheres, nos adultos de meia idade e nos mais escolarizados. Falta de acesso aos serviços odontológicos foram mais prevalentes em mulheres, nos mais jovens, nos menos escolarizados e nos pardos. Os resultados deste estudo revelam a existência de marcantes iniquidades na utilização e acesso de serviços odontológicos nas capitais brasileiras.Marco A. Peres, Betine Pinto Moehlecke Iser, Antonio Fernando Boing, Renata Tiene de Carvalho Yokota, Deborah Carvalho Malta, Karen Glazer Pere