Journal List > J Korean Acad Oral Health > v.43(2) > 1129198

Park, Lee, Bae, Lee, Lee, Jang, Hur, and Park: A study on dentist and dental hygienist burnout

Abstract

Objectives

Dentists and dental hygienists undergo high levels of stress due to various factors and the burnout of health-care personnel is very important in the context of personal and social problems. Therefore, empirical research reflecting the social, cultural, and special circumstances of the medical environment is necessary. Here, we explore the causes and outcomes of burnout in dentists and dental hygienists and present ways to prevent burnout.

Methods

A cross-sectional research design was used to measure burnout of 141 dentists and 61 dental hygienists. A structured questionnaire containing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was administered from May to June, 2018. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0, descriptive statistics, t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskall-Wallis test, and multiple regression analysis.

Results

Each participant's MBI was measured in three aspects (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment). The MBI scores of dentists with regards to their emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment were 24.8%, 34%, and 48.2%, respectively. Alternatively the scores of dental hygienists were 45.9%, 44.3% and 52.5%, respectively, for the same parameters. While the factors affecting the burnout of dentists and dental hygienists were different, it had a negative impact on the professional performance of both.

Conclusions

According to the results of this study, Korean dentists and dental hygienists experience high levels of work-related burnouts. This can have adverse impacts on their personal health and that of their patients. Therefore, stress management is necessary in dentists and dental hygienists.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General characteristics of participants

jkaoh-43-100-i001
Table 2

MBI score and distribution of MBI subscales

jkaoh-43-100-i002

MBI, Maslach Burnout Inventory.

*Mean±SD of MBI subscales: Emotional exhaustion (min=0, max=54), Depersonalization (min=0, max=30), and Personal accomplishment (min=0, max=48).

P-values determined by Independent t-test.

N (%), respondents were categorized as high burnout (emotional exhaustion≥27, depersonalization≥10, and personal accomplishment≤33), medium burnout (14≤emotional exhaustion≤26, 6≤depersonalization≤9, and 34≤personal accomplishment≤39), or low burnout (emotional exhaustion≤13, depersonalization≤5, and personal accomplishment≥40).

Table 3

MBI score according to general characteristics of participants

jkaoh-43-100-i003

MBI, Maslach Burnout Inventory.

a,bThe same characters are meant to show there is no significant difference by Bonferroni's post-hoc analysis.

*Mean±SD of MBI: min=0, max=132.

P-values determined by Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test or Kruskal-Wallis test.

Table 4

Factors influencing the burnout syndrome of dentists (N=141)

jkaoh-43-100-i004

*P-value determined from multiple regression analysis.

Table 5

Factors influencing the burnout syndrome of dental hygienists (N=61)

jkaoh-43-100-i005

*P-value determined from multiple regression analysis.

Table 6

Factors affecting the negative job performance of dentists (N=141)

jkaoh-43-100-i006

*P-value determined from multiple regression analysis.

Table 7

Factors affecting the negative job performance of dental hygienists (N=61)

jkaoh-43-100-i007

*P-value determined from multiple regression analysis.

References

1. Maslach , C , Schaufeli WB, Leiter MP. Job burnout. Annu Rev Psychol. 2001; 52:397–422.
crossref
2. Freudenberger HJ. Staff burn-out. J Soc Issues. 1974; 30:159–165.
crossref
3. Kim JS. The effect of the big five personality factors on burnout of dentists: mediating effect of coping strategies [master's thesis]. Busan: Kyungsung University;2012. [Korean].
4. Te Brake H, Smits N, Wicherts JM, Gorter RC, Hoogstraten J. Burnout development among dentists: a longitudinal study. Eur J Oral Sci. 2008; 116:545–551.
crossref
5. Dyrbye LN, Shanafelt TD, Sinsky CA, Cipriano PF, Bhatt J, Ommaya A, et al. Burnout among health care professionals: a call to explore and address this underrecognized threat to safe, highquality care. NAM perspectives. 2017; 07. 05. DOI: 10.31478/201707b. [Epub].
crossref
6. Bae JD. Association between burnout and job satisfaction among Korean dentists [Doctor's dissertation]. Daegu: Kyungpook National University;2009. [Korean].
7. Osborne D, Croucher R. Levels of burnout in general dental practitioners in the south-east of England. Br Dent J. 1994; 177:372–377.
crossref
8. Puriene A, Janulyte V, Musteikyte M, Bendinskaite R. General health of dentists. Literature review. Stomatologija. 2007; 9:10–20.
9. Singh P, Aulak DS, Mangat SS, Aulak MS. Systematic review: factors contributing to burnout in dentistry. Occup Med (Lond). 2016; 66:27–31.
crossref
10. Jeong KY, Han OS. A study on emotional labor, emotional burnout, turnover intention of dental hygienist. J Dent Hyg Sci. 2015; 15:280–286.
crossref
11. Jang HA, Han SJ. Effect of role stress, resilience, and professional identity on burnout in dental hygienists. J Korean Soc Dent Hyg. 2018; 18:683–691.
crossref
12. Kim YS, Yoon HS. Burnout among clinical dental hygienists and its coping behaviors. J Dent Hyg Sci. 2007; 7:225–233.
13. Gorter RC. Work stress and burnout among dental hygienists. Int J Dent Hyg. 2005; 3:88–92.
crossref
14. Deckard GJ, Rountree B. Burnout in dental hygiene. Dent Hyg (Chic). 1984; 58:307–313.
15. Uziel N, Meyerson J, Birenzweig Y, Eli I. Professional burnout and work stress among israeli dental assistants. Psychol Health Med. 2019; 24:59–67.
crossref
16. Kang JH, Kim CW. Evaluating applicability of Maslach burnout inventory among university hospitals nurses. Korean J Adult Nurs. 2012; 24:31–37.
crossref
17. Poghosyan L, Aiken LH, Sloane DM. Factor structure of the Maslach burnout inventory: an analysis of data from large scale cross-sectional surveys of nurses from eight countries. Int J Nurs Stud. 2009; 46:894–902.
crossref
18. Jin MU, Jeong SH, Kim EK, Choi YH, Song KB. Burnout and its related factors in Korean dentists. Int dent J. 2015; 65:22–31.
crossref
19. Korean health and medical workers' union. Survey on healthcare workers in 2016. Seoul: Korean health and medical workers' union;2016. p. 103.
20. Jeong SH, Ahn SH, Hong SS, Choi YH, Song KB. Analysis of job satisfaction of dental residents. J Korean Acad Oral health. 2003; 27:447–458.
21. Statistics Korea. Women's lives through statistics in 2018. Daejeon: Statistics Korea;2018. p. 40.
22. Park JH. Burnout and job satisfaction among dental hygienists in some legions. J Korean Soc Dent Hyg. 2009; 9:569–579.
23. Health insurance review & assessment service, national health insurance Service.2016 national health insurance statistical yearbook. Wonju: Health insurance review & assessment service, national health insurance service;2017. p. 40–43.
24. Chohan LA. A survey of professional burnout and depression among pediatric dentists in the United States [master's thesis]. Toronto: University of Toronto;2016. [English].
25. Choy HB, Wong MC. Occupational stress and burnout among Hong Kong dentists. Hong Kong Med J. 2017; 23:480–488.
crossref
26. Lee SK, Seong JM. Research about communication of dental medical workers. J Korean Acad Dent Hyg. 2012; 14:161–168.
27. Kwon KM, Tea IH, Ko MY, Ahn YW. The analysis of the current status of dental popular complaints. J Oral Med Pain. 2009; 34:143–151.
28. Ernst Kossek E, Ozeki C. Work-family conflict, policies, and the job-life satisfaction relationship: a review and directions for organizational behavior-human resources research. J Appl Psychol. 1998; 83:139–149.
crossref
29. Park SA, Kang KS, Jeong MY, Cha NH, Kim SY. Family support : a review of nursing literature on its trends and implementations. J Korean Community Nurs. 2001; 12:639–646.
TOOLS
ORCID iDs

Yuyi Park
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5907-3624

Jihyun Lee
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9357-5345

Sohwi Bae
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8108-4418

Kichan Lee
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0049-1375

Sangheuk Lee
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1720-9313

Soojin Jang
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8991-2484

Haeryung Hur
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0876-4489

Younghoon Park
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2836-3121

Similar articles