Dental Public Research Articles

Occupational balance in health professionals in Sweden

Background: Health care employees are often women, a group that has high degrees of sick leave and perhaps problems attaining occupational balance. However, people think differently about their everyday activities and it is therefore important to take their perceptions into account but occupational balance has not yet been measured in health professionals. The aim was to describe occupational balance in three different samples of health professionals in Sweden. A further aim was to investigate whether occupational therapists (OTs) rate their occupational balance differently from other health professionals.Material and method: Four hundred and eighty-two health professionals, employees in public dentistry, mental health care and OTs, aged 21–70 years participated. The participants’ occupational balance was measured using the occupational balance questionnaire (OBQ).Results: The ratings of occupational balance were similar to earlier studies and did not differ significantly between the samples. The OTs’ occupational balance was also similar to that of the other health professionals.Conclusion: The similarities in occupational balance indicate the same difficulties in attaining it.Significance: The result highlights the possibility that working people face similar difficulties in achieving occupational balance. Further research is warranted about how to attain it.

Dental publications at the Saudi Medical Journal

[No Abstract Available] Saudi Med J 2016; Vol. 37 (4): 345-347 doi: 10.15537/smj.2016.4.14777 How to cite this article: Al-Mohaya MA. Dental publications at the Saudi Medical Journal. Where do we stand 2009-2016. Saudi Med J 2016; 37: 345-347.

Perception and Knowledge of Dentists in Southern Brazil Related to use of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment in the Public Health Service

Objective: To investigate the perception and knowledge of dentists regarding use of the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) in public health services of cities in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire with 60 dentists who work with public dentistry services. To evaluate possible associations between the use of ART and the independent variables we used the chi-square test and logistic regression models (α = 0.05). Results: Forty-four questionnaires were completed, resulting in a response rate of 73%. Of the respondents, 70.4% supported the use of ART and 81.8% reported having some training in the technique. However, 72.7% consider ART to be a temporary or urgent treatment. Professionals who do not advocate the use of ART were 76% less likely to use the technique when compared to their colleagues who defend the use of the technique (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.06 to 0.98). Conclusion: While most dentists have knowledge and positive attitude towards ART, greater dissemination is required for this technique can be used effectively on the public service.

Становление советской стоматологии Воронежской губернии

The authors highlight the issues of creating a new system of public dentistry after the revolution of 1917, consider the decision of the Narkomzdrav of the RSFSR "On the organization of dental care in the Republic", they analyze the reform of the transition from private dentistry in Russia to the organization of free dental care. Organization of accounting and collecting information on available staffing privately practicing dentists and their material and technical equipment, as well as the issues of labor service dentists and dental technicians are considered. The article presents the process of nationalization of dental equipment ambulatory care in privately practicing dentists. The authors study the problems of mobilization of dentists to the front in the Red army, they highlight the role of Narkomzdrav of the RSFSR in the development of policies and guidelines for the establishment of a state dentistry and systematic financing of city departments to create and supply free dental clinics, as well as the problems of reform of the state organization of dentistry in the Soviet Republic. The au-thors show the changes affecting dental care because of the new economic policy. A review of documents of the state archive of the Voronezh region, which reflect the work of dental subsections of the Voronezh Region in the first years after the revolution, is presented. The authors conduct a detailed analysis of the dental work the sub-section on the establishment and organization of a network of dental clinics to provide free dental care to the population of the Voronezh province.

The Egyptian workers' movement before and after the 2011 popular uprising

In January and February 2014, about 100,000 workers participated in strikes and other collective actions. The pace of protest escalated further in March when thousands of public sector doctors, dentists and pharmacists declared a full strike, as did thousands of Alexandria Public Transport workers. During the year’s first quarter there were a total of 240 labour actions. Projected to an annual basis, this is a significant decline from the high point of 2011-12, but still far more than any year during the decade before the demise of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Perhaps unsurprisingly in the era of global neoliberal hegemony, the significance of the workers’ movement has been underestimated in both Western and Egyptian explanations for Mubarak’s overthrow. Egyptian workers had participated significantly in the burgeoning culture of protest that delegitimized the Mubarak regime during the decade before his ouster on 11 February 2011. The recent upsurge followed a relatively quiescent six-month period after the ouster of President Muhammad Morsi of the Muslim Brothers-sponsored Freedom and Justice Party. Morsi was removed by a combination of massive popular demonstrations on 30 June 2013 – even larger than those that had led to the demise of Mubarak two and a half years earlier – followed by a military coup on July 3 after serving just one year in office as Egypt’s first democratically elected president. The essay will explore the roots of the 2011 popular uprising and chart the cycle of contention over economic demands that began in the late 1990s. Egyptian workers have sharply escalated the pace of their strikes and collective actions, a movement that has been in large measure a response, albeit for the most part not articulated in these terms, to the neoliberal transformation of the Egyptian economy.

Masseter muscle tension, chewing ability, and selected parameters of physical fitness in elderly care home residents in Lodz, Poland.

BackgroundMaintaining good physical fitness and oral function in old age is an important element of good quality of life. Disability-related impairment of oral function contributes to a deterioration of the diet of older people and to the reduction of their social activity.ObjectivesInvestigate the association between masseter muscle tension, dental status, and physical fitness parameters.Materials and methodsTwo hundred fifty-nine elderly care home residents (97 men, 162 women; mean age, 75.3±8.9 years) were involved in this cross-sectional study. Their chewing ability was evaluated by masseter muscle tension palpation, differences of masseter muscle thickness, self-reported chewing ability, number of present and functional teeth, and number of posterior tooth pairs. Masseter muscle thickness was measured by ultrasonography. To assess physical fitness, hand grip strength and the timed up-and-go test were performed. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index and body cell mass index (BCMI), calculated on the basis of electrical bioimpedance measurements. Medical records were used to collect information on systemic diseases and the number of prescribed medications. Subjects were also evaluated for their ability to perform ten activities of daily living.ResultsNinety-seven percent of the subjects suffered from systemic diseases. The three most prevalent illnesses were cardiac/circulatory 64.5%, musculoskeletal 37.3%, and endocrine/metabolic/nutritional 29.3%. Of the participants, 1.5% were underweight and more than one third (34.4%) were overweight. Malnutrition (BCMI below normal) was found in almost half (45.2%) of the subjects. Only 5.8% had a sufficient number of functional natural teeth. Statistically significant correlations were found between palpation of masseter muscle tension and perceived chewing ability, number of present teeth, number of functional teeth, number of posterior tooth pairs, timed up-and-go, hand grip strength, body mass index, BCMI, and activities of daily living. In a multivariate model, after adjusting for age, sex, and education, subjects with higher BCMI, higher hand grip strength, and more present teeth had a significantly higher chance of strong masseter muscle tension.ConclusionThere is a relationship between chewing ability and physical fitness in elderly people. Efficiency of masseter muscles is related to physical fitness in the elderly. Masseter muscle tension examined by palpation can be used in public dentistry as one of the indicators of quality of life.

Organization and overall job satisfaction among publicly employed, salaried dentists in Sweden and Denmark

Background. In Sweden and Denmark, clinical dentistry is changing and public dentistry is in transition towards more market orientation. Dentists' overall job satisfaction is important for how public dentistry can fulfil the new expectations from patients, the public and politicians. Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate what organizational factors were important for publicly employed salaried dentists' overall job satisfaction. Methods. A random sample of active, general dental practitioners (private and publicly employed) was selected in Denmark and in Sweden, and they received a postal questionnaire. The number of questionnaires was 1835 and the response rate was 68% (n = 1226). This study analysed only the publicly employed dentists. The sampling frame for the Swedish dentists was 431, response rate 68.9% (n = 297) and for the Danish ones 194, response rate 81.9% (n = 159). Multivariate regression was used with overall job satisfaction as a dependent variable. Results. Common organizational variables were important. The used model explained between 32% (Sweden) and 39% (Denmark) of the variance in overall job satisfaction. The only significant individual factor was less job satisfaction for Swedish dentists born outside Sweden. An organizational climate characterized by a focus on professional values was associated with job satisfaction in both countries. Among the Swedish dentists, number of colleagues and degree of influence were also important and among the Danish ones sufficient time for patients. Conclusions. Organizational factors had an impact on salaried publicly employed dentists' overall job satisfaction in both countries. The findings may have implications for other Human Service Organizations with employed professionals.

Working conditions, health and productivity among dentists in Swedish public dental care – a prospective study during a 5-year period of rationalisation

In recent decades, comprehensive rationalisations have been implemented in public dentistry in Sweden. How rationalisations affect working conditions, health and production from a long-term perspective has been poorly investigated. This study aims to analyse changes and associations in dentists' working conditions, health and productivity during a 5-year period. In 2003 and 2008, 65 dentists responded to questionnaires measuring work conditions and health. Treatment times for patients and productivity were tracked in electronic registers. Paired t-tests showed that the number of treated adult patients per dentist increased, and perceived physical working conditions improved while perceived work control and leadership deteriorated. Structural equation modelling showed that physical factors were important for health and productivity. When assessing risks in the work environment, there is a need to understand the interaction of effects on working conditions and health due to rationalisations so as to increase the sustainability of production systems. Practioner Summary: Dentistry in Sweden has undergone considerable change. Questionnaire surveys with dentists, undertaken in 2003 and 2008, found that the present rationalisations resulted in improved perceived physical working conditions. Aspects of the psychosocial working environment had deteriorated, however. This is a concern as health and workability are important for workplace efficiency.

Regional density of private dentists: empirical evidence from Austria

We investigated the determinants of disparities in the regional density of private dentists in Austria. Specifically, we focused on the relationship between the density of private dentists and their public counterparts, thereby controlling for other possible covariates of dentist density. Dentist density was measured at the district level. We used panel data of dentist density from 121 Austrian districts over the years 2001-2008. We applied a Hausman-Taylor framework to cope with possible endogeneity and to control for cross-district effects in the dentist density. A significant negative relationship was found between the density of private and public dentists, indicating a substitution effect between the two dentist groups. A significant positive spatial relationship also existed for private and public dentists in the neighboring regions. Dental capacities in public and private hospitals and dental laboratories run by the public health insurance system did not have a significant effect on private dentist density. Although a strong negative relationship existed between private and public dentists within the districts, one should not draw the conclusion that private dentists in Austria are close substitutes for public dentists. Such a conclusion would require further empirical analysis on the utilization patterns of dental services and their relationships with financing mechanisms.

Assessing the impact of dental faculties publication - methodology clarifications - need of the hour

With publication being made mandatory for being a dental faculty in most countries, there is a huge amount of research output emanating from academicians. Though there has been an acute interest in publication, there exists no policy or a common platform or a unified methodology where in the post-publication effects are analyzed. Each publication draws considerable resources in terms of manpower, time, financial and other valuable resources. Hence assessing the impact that contemporary research makes on health care delivery is crucial. Though, publications have evolved as a mark of scholarly skills, it needs to be periodically gauged for reasons including promotions, grants and other academic perks. Currently there are different yard sticks available. An easy to apply assessment method needs to be evolved for Pan-Indian application. The main aim of this review manuscript is to provide a comprehensive insight to post-publication metric assessment exercises so that the faculties, policy framers and funding agencies adopt uniform policies for periodical assessment of the teaching faculties for better oral health care delivery.

A scoping review of qualitative research in peer‐reviewed dental publications

Qualitative research designs are being used increasingly in dental research. This paper describes the extent and range of dental research in which qualitative methods have been employed as well as the techniques of data collection and analysis preferred by dental researchers. A scoping review was conducted to locate studies published in dental journals, which reported the use of qualitative methods. Data concerning the focus of the research and the reported qualitative techniques were extracted. Studies included in the review totalled 197. The majority of qualitative research captured in this scoping study focussed on three main areas: dental education, professional dental and dental educators' activities and experiences and the patient/public perceptions. Interviews and focus group discussions were the most commonly selected techniques for data collection. The majority of the studies included in the scoping review had a focus on education of dental professionals the activities of dental professionals or the reported perceptions of or experiences with dental services by patients or members of the public. Little research was located, which explored peoples' personal experience of dental conditions. Research reported in dental publications has a heavy bias towards the use of focus groups and interview data collection techniques.

Job satisfaction of the oral health labour force in Australia

Job satisfaction among registered clinical dentists in Australia was measured to identify issues influencing recruitment and retention. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 2202 dentists, stratified by state and gender, selected from the 2005 Australian Dental Association directory. A total of 61.9% of dentists responded. Analyses showed significant differences in levels of satisfaction for various dimensions of job satisfaction by gender, age group, practice type and geographic area. Differences in satisfaction between male and female dentists related to the relationships with colleagues and administrative responsibilities dimensions. Dentists of different age groups differed on eight dimensions: relationships with colleagues, patients, staff; personal time; intrinsic satisfaction; community; administrative responsibilities and resources. Differences among private and public dentists related to autonomy, relationships with patients, staff, community, compensation and resources dimensions. Dentists working in different geographic areas differed on relationships with staff and community dimensions. Differences existed between private and public dentists, metropolitan and non-metropolitan dentists, male and female dentists and dentists of different ages. Such differences should be addressed in order to improve recruitment and retention rates of dentists. Workplaces that offer job autonomy, competitive pay, flexible working hours and minimal administrative burden may improve dentist job satisfaction.

Overall job satisfaction among dentists in Sweden and Denmark: A comparative study, measuring positive aspects of work

Objective. Human service work differs from industrial work, which should be considered when organizing work. Previous research has shown organizational differences in the perceptions of work, often with a focus on negative aspects. The aim of this study was to analyse the overall job satisfaction among private- and public-practising dentists in Sweden and Denmark. This also implied a description of the questionnaire Swedish and Danish Dentists' Perceptions of Good Work about opportunities and positive and rewarding aspects of work. Material and methods. A questionnaire covering the multidimensional concept of good work was developed. A total of 1835 dentists randomly sampled from the dental associations were sent a questionnaire in November 2008. A special non-response study was performed. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to create a measure of overall job satisfaction, comparing four organizational subgroups. Results. The average net response rate was 68% (n = 1226). The special non-response study of the Danish private practitioners showed more males, managers and dentists with more working hours than the respondents. PCA of three satisfaction questions showed a stable one-factor solution. There were differences in job satisfaction, with Danish public dentists ranked highest in overall job satisfaction and Swedish public dentists lowest. Conclusions. There were organizational differences in the perception of job satisfaction. Further analysis of how the human service is organized in the different groups is needed.

Pay scheme preferences and health policy objectives

This paper studies the preferences among healthcare workers towards pay schemes involving different levels of risk. It identifies which pay scheme individuals would prefer for themselves, and which they think is best in furthering health policy objectives. The paper adds, methodologically, a way of defining pay schemes that include different levels of risk. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 1111 dentists. Respondents provided information about their current and preferred pay schemes, and indicated which pay scheme, in their opinion, would best further overall health policy objectives. A total of 504 dentists (45%) returned the questionnaire, and there was no indication of systematic non-response bias. All public dentists had a current pay scheme based on a fixed salary and the majority of individuals preferred a pay scheme with more income risk. Their preferred pay schemes coincided with the ones believed to further stabilise healthcare personnel. The predominant current pay scheme among private dentists was based solely on individual output, and the majority of respondents preferred this pay scheme. In addition, their preferred pay schemes coincided with the ones believed to further efficiency objectives. Both public and private dentists believed that pay schemes, furthering efficiency objectives, had to include more performance-related pay than the ones believed to further stability and quality objectives.

Factors associated with the recruitment and retention of dentists in the public sector

There is an increasing demand for public dental services in Australia, with many community dental clinics unable to meet this demand because of an inadequate number of dentists in the workforce. The aim of this study was to identify factors contributing to the recruitment and retention of dentists in the public sector. A postal questionnaire survey of 180 dentists (response rate 75.6 percent) working in the Victorian public sector was undertaken to investigate the characteristics of public sector dentists, job satisfaction, remuneration, perceptions of public dentistry, future career intentions, and issues that relate to recruitment and retention of staff. Victorian public dentists' main reason for entering the public sector was to work in a community-based setting in a supportive and mentored environment. The main factors related to dentists leaving the public sector were poor remuneration, lack of clinical experience, and frustration with administrative policies. Victoria's oral health workforce shortages in the public sector are mainly attributed to retention issues. The potential for mentoring and a desire for helping those in need were factors attracting dentists to work in the public sector. There was a disproportionate number of female dentists in the public sector compared with the general population, and female dentists had a lower mean salary than male dentists regardless of experience. A range of factors were associated with retention, and gradual frustration because of poor remuneration and lack of professional autonomy were significant reasons for the decision to leave the public sector.

Think twice before you book? Modelling the choice of public vs private dentist in a choice experiment

This study concerns the choice of primary dental service provider by consumers. If the health service delivery system allows individuals to choose between public-care providers or if complementary private services are available, it is typically assumed that utilisation is a three-stage decision process. The patient first makes a decision to seek care, and then chooses the service provider. The final stage, involving decisions over the amount and form of treatment, is not considered here. The paper reports a discrete choice experiment (DCE) designed to evaluate attributes affecting individuals' choice of dental-care provider. The feasibility of the DCE approach in modelling consumers' choice in the context of non-acute need for dental care is assessed. The aim is to test whether a separate two-stage logit, a multinomial logit, or a nested logit best fits the choice process of consumers. A nested logit model of indirect utility functions is estimated and inclusive value (IV) constraints are tested for modelling implications. The results show that non-trading behaviour has an impact on the choice of appropriate modelling technique, but is to some extent dependent on the choice of scenarios offered. It is concluded that for traders multinomial logit is appropriate, whereas for non-traders and on average the nested logit is the method supported by the analyses. The consistent finding in all subgroup analyses is that the traditional two-stage decision process is found to be implausible in the context of consumer's choice of dental-care provider.

Survey on the development of the public dentist's professional education by the participating dentists of the 2008 public dentist's education

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the public dentist's professional education for 81 dentists employed at the public health centers and dental clinics in the National hospitals. The purpose of this education was to improve public dentist's abilities to perform their duties. The 3days education was from 28 May until 30 May in 2008. The total 81 participants consisted of 8 medical position dentists, 20 employment position dentists, and 53 public health dentists. The survey provided appraisal of the education and suggestion of the development after this education. The obtained results were as followings : l. The public dental health project for the disabled people(91.4%) was a top priority. The second rank was the public dental health education project (87.6%) and the public dental health project for the aged people(86.4%) was followed. 2. The participants agreed that public dentist's professional educational programs were necessary(87.6%). 3. The participants did not have difficulties in attending this education(56.8%). 4. The participants who participated in 2008 public dentists' professional education were satisfied with this educational programs(81.4%). 5. Not only did the public dentists need the preventive dentistry programs and the treatment of the disabled people but also needed the health administrative programs and the health statistical programs in the future.

Finnish dentists’ perceptions of the longevity of direct dental restorations

Objectives. To evaluate Finnish dentists’ perceptions of the longevity of direct dental restorations; to assess the possible impacts of dentists’ characteristics on these perceptions; and to compare the present longevity estimates with those of recent European reports. Methods. A questionnaire to 592 general practitioners, systematically sampled from the Finnish Dental Association's membership list, was posted in April 2004 and data collection was finished by the end of June. The question “In general, what is your estimate for the mean age of restoration in permanent teeth?” pointed restorations: Class II and MOD composites and amalgam in a posterior tooth and Class III composites in an incisor. Dentists’ gender, main work, and year of graduation served as background information. Of the 339 (57%) respondents, only public and private dentists were included; 11 were excluded. Three studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria for recent reports on restoration longevity. Statistical evaluation was by one-way ANOVA, with p=0.05 as the level of significance. Results. The mean of the estimates for all types of composite was 9.0 years (SD 3.6; 95% CI 8.6–9.3) and 18.7 years for amalgam (SD 7.3; 95% CI 18.0–19.5). Male dentists gave longer estimates than female dentists for posterior composites, but shorter estimates for amalgam. Compared to public dentists, private dentists gave longer estimates for posterior composites. All estimates were longer than those reported in the recent literature. Conclusion. Dentists’ perceptions of posterior composite longevity are significantly longer among males than among females and among private than public sector dentists, and exceed the median longevity reported in recent studies.

Factors influencing the use of public dental services: An application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour

BackgroundThere is limited evidence of the influence of psychosocial factors and health beliefs on public dental patient's patterns of service use in Australia. The research aims were to examine associations between dental attitudes and beliefs of public dental service users and dental visiting intention and behaviour using the Theory of Planned Behaviour.Methods517 randomly selected adult public dental patients completed a questionnaire assessing dental attitudes and beliefs which was matched with electronic records for past and future dental service use. A questionnaire measured intentions, attitudes, subjective norms and perceptions of behavioural control and self-efficacy in relation to visiting public dentists. A measure of dental attendance at public dental clinics was obtained retrospectively (over 3 1/2 years) and prospectively (over a one year period following the return of the questionnaire) by accessing electronic patient clinical records.ResultsParticipants had positive attitudes, subjective norms and self-efficacy beliefs towards dental visiting but perceived a lack of control over visiting the dentist. Attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy and perceived control were significant predictors of intention (P < 0.05). Intentions, self-efficacy and past dental attendance were significant predictors of actual dental attendance (P < 0.05).ConclusionPublic dental patients held favourable attitudes and beliefs but perceived a lack of control towards dental visiting. Reducing structural barriers may therefore improve access to public dental services.

The British Dental Editors Forum

In this short article, Nairn Wilson introduces the British Dental Editors Forum, a little-known but important organisation that provides support for dental editors and encourages quality and confidence in dental publications.