Impact of a multifaceted continuing education program on occupational stress and professional capabilities in dental...

As preventive dentistry gains increasing importance in dental care, the role of dental hygienists has expanded. Alongside this growth, occupational stress has emerged as a significant challenge. We aimed to longitudinally evaluate the impact of a training program on the occupational stress levels of dental hygienists.

A total of 141 dental hygienists participated in a training program between September 2019 and March 2021. Among them, 53 currently employed individuals were included in the analysis. Assessments were conducted at four time points: before training, immediately after completing the training, 3 months post-training, and 1 year post-training. Evaluations included self-assessment of knowledge and skill levels, as well as the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire.

Significant improvements in levels of "knowledge" and "technical skills" were observed immediately after training and maintained for up to 3 months. These improvements were also associated with increased "job control" and decreased "anxiety" levels. However, at the 1-year follow-up, increases were noted in "anger-irritability," "fatigue," "anxiety," and "depression." Among participants who completed clinical practice training, "fatigue" and "anxiety" decreased immediately after training. However, "interpersonal conflict" increased after 1 year.

While the training program effectively reduced occupational stress in the short term, maintaining its long-term effects proved challenging. Addressing occupational stress among dental hygienists requires improvements in working conditions, continuous professional development, and the establishment of regular training and follow-up systems.