Occupational stressors and associated factors among dentists in Erbil City, Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Abstract

Background. The health and well-being of dentists are essential components of a successful dental practice. Many studies showing high levels of stress, burnout, and psychological distress reported by dental professionals. Objective. To assess the main occupational stressors among dentists practicing in Erbil city and to identify the associated factors that lead to or aggravate these stressors experienced in the work environment. Subjects, materials and methods. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from August to October 2023. Data were collected from private and two government dental teaching institutions, along with accessible dental clinical practices. A total of 220 dentists were recruited. A modified version of the Occupational Stress Indicator questionnaire was used to assess the stressors. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Kurdistan Board for Medical Specialties. The questionnaire consisted of two sections, the first gathering demographic and professional data of the participants, while the second section contained 33 items assessing the causes of stress. Participants rated the frequency of stressors using a scale of “never”, “seldom”, “sometimes”, “often”, “very often”, and “always”. Results. The response rate was 199/220 (90.5%). 64.3% of participants were younger than 38 years. Males contributed for 57.3%. The mean total stress score was 90 ± 17.6. Higher stress score was significantly associated with the presence of health problems, (p<0.05). A lower mean stress score was reported among dentists who were practicing their job only in private clinics, (p<0.05). No other factors showed a significant correlation with stress scores. Conclusion. Dentistry is a stressful profession and there are significant stressors that dental professionals face in their daily work, which can have implications for their overall well-being and the quality of patient care. There is a significant association between stress levels and the presence of health problems, as well as the place of employment.