Burnout and Work Engagement Among US Dentists
Jean Marie Calvo, Japneet Kwatra1, Alfa Yansane
1Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology Department, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Journal of Patient Safety
|July 4, 2017
Summary
Burnout affects 13.2% of US dentists, impacting patient safety. Promoting work engagement is crucial for the dental profession to reduce burnout and enhance professional well-being.
Area of Science:
- Dental Public Health
- Occupational Health Psychology
Background:
- Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, poses a significant risk to patient safety.
- Work engagement, conversely, is defined by vigor, dedication, and absorption in one's profession.
- Understanding the prevalence and interplay of burnout and work engagement is critical for the well-being of dental professionals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of burnout and work engagement among dentists in the United States.
- To examine the relationship between burnout and work engagement within this professional group.
Main Methods:
- A self-administered survey was distributed to 167 US dentists attending continuing education courses.
- Validated instruments, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, were used for measurement.
- Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlations and t-tests, were employed to assess relationships and group differences.
Main Results:
- Burnout was identified in 13.2% of the surveyed dentists, while 16.2% reported high work engagement.
- A statistically significant association was found between burnout risk and work engagement (χ2 = 22.51, P < 0.0001).
- Significant correlations were observed between the subscale scores of burnout and work engagement.
Conclusions:
- This preliminary study indicates the presence of burnout among practicing US dentists.
- The findings underscore the importance for the dental profession to address burnout and foster work engagement.
- Implementing strategies to enhance work engagement may be key to mitigating burnout in dental practice.
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