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British Dental Journal May 2020
Topics: Dentists; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 32444719
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-020-1687-3 -
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Apr 2022Dental professionals can play a pivotal role in educating the public about the harmful effects of smoking and encouraging them to quit the habit.
BACKGROUND
Dental professionals can play a pivotal role in educating the public about the harmful effects of smoking and encouraging them to quit the habit.
AIM
This study assesses the attitudes and practices of tobacco cessation counseling (TCC) among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study targeted dentists and dental interns working in government and private sectors in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a descriptive analysis by using SPSS Statistics, version 25.0.
RESULTS
A total of 895 respondents (314 interns and 581 dentists) participated in this survey. Although the majority of respondents (93%) reported that they always ask patients about tobacco habits, only 59% reported recording tobacco habits in patients' files, and only 55% of the respondents reported explaining to patients the harmful effects of tobacco. Around 91% of the participants believe that a dental clinic is an appropriate place for TCC, and 22% believe that TCC has a negative impact on dental practice. Smoking status, work setting, and the number of years since graduation were found to be significantly associated with the respondents' attitudes and practices. Lack of training, time limitations, and lack of confidence were barriers for TCC.
CONCLUSIONS
Dental professionals in Saudi Arabia demonstrated relatively positive attitudes but weak practices of TCC. Continuous education and motivation are needed to improve dentists' confidence, attitudes, and willingness for TCC. Integration of tobacco control education in undergraduate curricula is recommended.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Counseling; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentists; Humans; Saudi Arabia; Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tobacco Use Cessation
PubMed: 35439911
DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_1784_21 -
Journal of Public Health Dentistry Mar 2017The purpose of this paper is to describe the Black dentist workforce, the practice patterns of providers, and their contributions to oral health care for minority and...
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this paper is to describe the Black dentist workforce, the practice patterns of providers, and their contributions to oral health care for minority and underserved patients.
METHODS
A national sample survey of underrepresented minority dentists was conducted in 2012 and received a 32.6 percent response rate for self-reported Black dentists. Data were weighted for selection and response bias to be nationally representative. Descriptive and multivariable statistics were computed to provide a workforce profile of Black dentists. National comparisons are provided from published data.
RESULTS
Among all Black dentists (weighted nā=ā6,254), 76.6 percent self-identify as African-American, 13.2 percent as African, and 10.3 percent as Afro-Caribbean. The largest share of Black dentists are male, married, heterosexual, born in the United States and raised in a medium to large city. One third of Black dentists were the first in their family to graduate from college. Black dentists report higher average educational debt than all dental students, with graduates from International Dentist Programs having the greatest debt. Traditional practices (i.e., private practices) dominate, with 67.1 percent of Black dentists starting out in this setting and 73.5 percent currently in the setting. Black dentists care for a disproportionate share of Black patients, with an average patient mix that is 44.9 percent Black. Two in five Black dentists reported their patient pool is made up of more than 50 percent Black patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The underrepresentation for Black dentists is extraordinary, and the Black dentists that are in practice are shouldering a disproportionate share of dental care for minority and underserved communities.
Topics: Black or African American; Dentists; Female; Humans; Male; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States
PubMed: 27966789
DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12187 -
Journal of Public Health Dentistry Mar 2017The purpose of this paper is to describe the Hispanic/Latino (H/L) dentist workforce, their general practice patterns, and their contributions to oral health care for...
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this paper is to describe the Hispanic/Latino (H/L) dentist workforce, their general practice patterns, and their contributions to oral health care for H/L and underserved patients.
METHODS
A national sample survey of underrepresented minority dentists was conducted in 2012 and received a 35.4 percent response rate for self-reported H/L dentists. Data were weighted for selection and response bias to be nationally representative. A workforce profile of H/L dentists was created using descriptive and multivariable statistics and published data.
RESULTS
Among all H/L dentists (weighted nā=ā5,748), 31.9 percent self-identify their origin as Mexican, 13.4 percent as Puerto Rican, 13.0 percent as Cuban, and 41.7 percent as another H/L group. The largest share of H/L dentists are male, married, and have children under age 18. Fifty percent of H/L dentists are foreign-born and 25 percent are foreign-trained. H/L dentists report higher than average educational debt, with those completing International Dentist Programs reporting the highest debt load. Sixty-nine percent of clinically active H/L dentists own their own practices, and 85 percent speak Spanish in their practice. Among clinical H/L dentists, 7 percent work in safety-net settings, 40 percent primarily treat underserved populations, and, on average, 42 percent of their patient population is H/L.
CONCLUSIONS
H/L dental providers are underrepresented in the dentist population, and those that are in practice shoulder a disproportionate share of dental care for minority and underserved communities. Improving the workforce diversity of dental providers is a critical part of strategy to address the high burden of dental disease in the H/L population.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Dentists; Female; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Male; Medically Underserved Area; Middle Aged; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States
PubMed: 28025830
DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12194 -
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Nov 1992
Topics: Dentists; General Surgery; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; Humans; Physicians; Terminology as Topic; United Kingdom
PubMed: 1474548
DOI: 10.1177/014107689208501103 -
International Dental Journal Feb 2015Dentistry has been identified as one of the most stressful work environments. Knowledge of modifiable work-environment factors related to job stress could lead to a...
OBJECTIVES
Dentistry has been identified as one of the most stressful work environments. Knowledge of modifiable work-environment factors related to job stress could lead to a strategy and policy to provide a better work environment for dentists. The aims of this study were to examine the degree and distribution of burnout and to determine the factors associated with burnout subscale of Korean dentists.
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of Korean dentists was conducted using a custom-designed and validated questionnaire that incorporated the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) as well as questions regarding sociodemographic and job-related characteristics. A random sample of 1,000 dentists was selected from 13,207 registered dentists in the Korean Dental Association. The MBI-HSS scores were summarised in the three dimensions of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal sense of accomplishment. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the prevalence of burnout and its related factors.
RESULTS
The adjusted response rate was 45.9% (444/967). In the subscales of burnout, 41.2%, 55.9%, and 41.4% of respondents scored highly in emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation and poorly for personal sense of accomplishment, respectively. High burnout seems to be more likely to occur in association with some of the sociodemographic and job-related characteristics, especially younger age, male gender, without occupational calling, and unwilling to reselect a dentistry as a job.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that burnout is a common problem in Korean dentists and that occupational calling and willing to reselect a dentistry as a job are important factors for managing burnout.
Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Burnout, Professional; Career Choice; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentists; Depersonalization; Emotions; Female; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Male; Mental Fatigue; Middle Aged; Personality Inventory; Prevalence; Republic of Korea; Sex Factors
PubMed: 25412905
DOI: 10.1111/idj.12142 -
Implementation Science : IS Apr 2018This study aimed to identify barriers and enablers for dentists managing non-cavitated proximal caries lesions using non- or micro-invasive (NI/MI) approaches rather...
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to identify barriers and enablers for dentists managing non-cavitated proximal caries lesions using non- or micro-invasive (NI/MI) approaches rather than invasive and restorative methods in New Zealand, Germany and the USA.
METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were conducted, focusing on non-cavitated proximal caries lesions (radiographically confined to enamel or the outer dentine). Twelve dentists from New Zealand, 12 from Germany and 20 from the state of Michigan (USA) were interviewed. Convenience and snowball sampling were used for participant recruitment. A diverse sample of dentists was recruited. Interviews were conducted by telephone, using an interview schedule based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF).
RESULTS
The following barriers to managing lesions non- or micro-invasively were identified: patients' lacking adherence to oral hygiene instructions or high-caries risk, financial pressures and a lack of reimbursement for NI/MI, unsupportive colleagues and practice leaders, not undertaking professional development and basing treatment on what had been learned during training, and a sense of anticipated regret (anxiety about not restoring a proximal lesion in its early stages before it progressed). The following enablers were identified: the professional belief that remineralisation can occur in early non-cavitated proximal lesions and that these lesions can be arrested, the understanding that placing restorations weakens the tooth and inflicts a cycle of re-restoration, having up-to-date information and supportive colleagues and work environments, working as part of a team of competent and skilled dental practitioners who perform NI/MI (such as cleaning or scaling), having the necessary resources, undertaking ongoing professional development and continued education, maintaining membership of professional groups and a sense of professional and personal satisfaction from working in the patient's best interest. Financial aspects were more commonly mentioned by the German and American participants, while continuing education was more of a focus for the New Zealand participants.
CONCLUSIONS
Decisions on managing non-cavitated proximal lesions were influenced by numerous factors, some of which could be targeted by interventions for implementing evidence-based management strategies in practice.
Topics: Decision Making; Dental Caries; Dental Enamel; Dentists; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 29625615
DOI: 10.1186/s13012-018-0744-7 -
Infection Control and Hospital... Nov 2023Dentists prescribe 10% of all outpatient antibiotics in the United States and are the top specialty prescriber. Data on current antibiotic prescribing trends are scarce....
OBJECTIVES
Dentists prescribe 10% of all outpatient antibiotics in the United States and are the top specialty prescriber. Data on current antibiotic prescribing trends are scarce. Therefore, we evaluated trends in antibiotic prescribing rates by dentists, and we further assessed whether these trends differed by agent, specialty, and by patient characteristics.
DESIGN
Retrospective study of dental antibiotic prescribing included data from the IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Data set from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2019.
METHODS
The change in the dentist prescribing rate and mean days' supply were evaluated using linear regression models.
RESULTS
Dentists wrote >216 million antibiotic prescriptions between 2012 and 2019. The annual dental antibiotic prescribing rate remained steady over time ( = .5915). However, the dental prescribing rate (antibiotic prescriptions per 1,000 dentists) increased in the Northeast (by 1,313 antibiotics per 1,000 dentists per year), among oral and maxillofacial surgeons (n = 13,054), prosthodontists (n = 2,381), endodontists (n = 2,255), periodontists (n = 1,961), and for amoxicillin (n = 2,562; < .04 for all). The mean days' supply significantly decreased over the study period by 0.023 days per 1,000 dentists per year ( < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
From 2012 to 2019, dental prescribing rates for antibiotics remained unchanged, despite decreases in antibiotic prescribing nationally and changes in guidelines during the study period. However, mean days' supply decreased over time. Dental specialties, such as oral and maxillofacial surgeons, had the highest prescribing rate with increases over time. Antibiotic stewardship efforts to improve unnecessary prescribing by dentists and targeting dental specialists may decrease overall antibiotic prescribing rates by dentists.
Topics: United States; Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Retrospective Studies; Dentists; Outpatients; Amoxicillin
PubMed: 37605940
DOI: 10.1017/ice.2023.151 -
BMJ Open Dec 2019To systematically review the available literature on physicians' and dentists' experiences influencing job motivation, job satisfaction, burnout, well-being and symptoms...
OBJECTIVES
To systematically review the available literature on physicians' and dentists' experiences influencing job motivation, job satisfaction, burnout, well-being and symptoms of depression as indicators of job morale in low-income and middle-income countries.
DESIGN
The review was reported following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for studies evaluating outcomes of interest using qualitative methods. The framework method was used to analyse and integrate review findings.
DATA SOURCES
A primary search of electronic databases was performed by using a combination of search terms related to the following areas of interest: 'morale', 'physicians and dentists' and 'low-income and middle-income countries'. A secondary search of the grey literature was conducted in addition to checking the reference list of included studies and review papers.
RESULTS
Ten papers representing 10 different studies and involving 581 participants across seven low-income and middle-income countries met the inclusion criteria for the review. However, none of the studies focused on dentists' experiences was included. An analytical framework including four main categories was developed: work environment (physical and social), rewards (financial, non-financial and social respect), work content (workload, nature of work, job security/stability and safety), managerial context (staffing levels, protocols and guidelines consistency and political interference). The job morale of physicians working in low-income and middle-income countries was mainly influenced by negative experiences. Increasing salaries, offering opportunities for career and professional development, improving the physical and social working environment, implementing clear professional guidelines and protocols and tackling healthcare staff shortage may influence physicians' job morale positively.
CONCLUSIONS
There were a limited number of studies and a great degree of heterogeneity of evidence. Further research is recommended to assist in scrutinising context-specific issues and ways of addressing them to maximise their utility.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42017082579.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Burnout, Professional; Catchment Area, Health; Dentists; Developing Countries; Employment; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Morale; Personal Satisfaction; Physicians; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 31796473
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028657 -
BMC Oral Health Apr 2022Due to increasing numbers of adult patients, orthodontists are being confronted more and more with periodontal problems. Coordination amongst orthodontists,...
BACKGROUND
Due to increasing numbers of adult patients, orthodontists are being confronted more and more with periodontal problems. Coordination amongst orthodontists, periodontists and general dentists is useful in preventing and stopping periodontal disease. The main objectives of this survey were to evaluate the technical knowledge, techniques and attitudes employed by French orthodontists, periodontists and general dentists in adult dental care.
METHODS
A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to French dentists. The questionnaire, consisting of 30 questions, was divided into six sections covering treatment programs and the forensic environment.
RESULTS
One thousand one hundred twenty-two complete answers were recorded. Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment represented 19.9% of the orthodontists' patients, but only 2.67% of the general dentists' patients. Communication between clinicians was rated as good, greater than 3 out of 5. Before treatment, orthodontists were less alarmed than generalists regarding bleeding, recessions, increased probing depths, halitosis and hyperplasia. During treatment, orthodontists never or only occasionally performed palpation or probing in 54.2% and 84.6% of cases. Gingivitis and recessions were the main reasons for consultations for 22.0% and 20.1% of general dentists and periodontists after orthodontic treatment. Of the practitioners surveyed, 43% felt that they experienced a setback in the ortho-periodontal treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed discrepancies in the knowledge and attitudes of practitioners. Therapeutic management remains one of the major challenges of multidisciplinary treatments. Continuing education needs to be further developed in this field.
Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentists; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Orthodontists; Professional Practice
PubMed: 35473616
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-022-02177-3