Occupational burnout and depression among paediatric dentists in the United States

Paediatric dentists in the United States may be at greater risk for occupational burnout and/or depression because of chronic stress associated with provision of paediatric dental care and increasing prevalence of females in the workforce.

To determine the prevalence of occupational burnout and/or depression among US paediatric dentists.

A self-administered online anonymous survey was sent to members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (n = 4735). The questionnaire consisted of seven demographic items, 22 items of Maslach Burnout Inventory (Three subscales: Emotional exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal accomplishment), and eight items of Patient Health Questionnaire-8.

The survey had a response rate of 11.4% (females = 53%). Twenty-three per cent of respondents had high emotional exhaustion while fewer respondents had high depersonalization (12%) or low personal accomplishment (10%). Nine per cent fulfilled the study's definition of occupational burnout (high emotional exhaustion + high depersonalization). Seven per cent of respondents had moderate-to-severe depression and showed significant correlations (P < .05) with high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. Two out of five respondents with occupational burnout also had moderate-to-severe depression. There were no gender differences in prevalence of burnout or depression.

Few paediatric dentists had occupational burnout and/or depression.