Abstract
Objectives:The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of employees regarding the merger of clinics within the Public Dental Service (PDS), Västra Götaland Region, Sweden.Methods:Employees (dentists, dental hygienists, dental nurses) affected by both administrative and geographical mergers of dental clinics answered a web-based survey about experiences and effects of the merger process (n = 99, 47%). The Swedish short-form version of “The Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work” (QPSNordic), the QPSNordic-34+ was used. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression analyses were used.Results:Two thirds of the participants were aged ≥ 50 years. The respondents stated that the reasons for the merger were often made clear (78%). Satisfaction with and involvement in the merger process received lower scores (45%). Work was often perceived as stressful, irrespective of the merger. Job demands and engagement scored positively, but control at work was given a low score (one fifth stated fairly high or high control). Dentists (OR 5.9; 95%, CI 1.1-32.3), but not dental hygienists (OR 2.8; 95%, CI 0.9-9.0), indicated stress significantly more often than dental nurses (reference) (adjusted for age and gender).Conclusion:Employees in the Public Dental Service (PDS) in a Swedish region had mainly positive experiences after the merger of clinics; however, their involvement in the process was low. Work demands were perceived as high. These findings should be considered when planning mergers in dental organizations.
Highlights
Many health care clinics have been merged in recent years, primarily for economic and other efficiency gains [1]
Physical mergers have been carried out using one of two models: both clinics have moved to new joint premises or one of the clinics has moved into the other clinic’s existing premises
The sample consisted of employees from Public Dental Service (PDS) clinics in the Västra Götaland Region (VGR), where geographic relocation due to clinic mergers took place between 2007 and 2011
Summary
Many health care clinics have been merged in recent years, primarily for economic and other efficiency gains [1]. Few mergers have been carried out in dentistry and there is a lack of scientific publications in the field. The Public Dental Service (PDS) in the Swedish Västra Götaland Region (VGR) has been reorganized, including the merger of clinics. These have been accomplished either through both financial and physical mergers, or by mere. The expected effects were, for example, better utilization of the existing premises, better service to the customer/patient, and reduced fixed costs [1]. The number of clinic managers has, decreased, and the clinic managers in merged clinics are responsible for a larger number of employees
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