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Burnout and health among Dutch dentists
Author(s) -
Gorter Ronald C.,
Eijkman Michiel A. J.,
Hoogstraten Johan
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0722.2000.108004261.x
Subject(s) - burnout , alcohol consumption , medicine , population , environmental health , psychology , family medicine , clinical psychology , alcohol , biochemistry , chemistry
In this study, it was hypothesised that dentists with a high burnout risk would experience more health complaints and show more unhealthy behaviour when compared with dentists with a low burnout risk. With a response rate of 75%, a representative group of 709 actively practising dentists responded to a questionnaire containing the Dutch version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI‐NL), a health complaints measure (VOEG), and items on health behaviour. Results showed that dentists with a high burnout risk reported health complaints to a greater extent than dentists with a low burnout risk. They also reported more unhealthy behaviour in some aspects (physical exercise/sporting, increase in alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet), but not in others. It also appeared that one out of ten dentists reported having poor general health, and that three out of ten reported to have poor physical condition. In general, dentists' self‐reports appeared favourable in comparison with the Dutch population. It is concluded from this study that among dentists burnout and poor health are strongly related. It is discussed that in order to deal preventively with burnout in dentistry, attention to physical health, including ergonomics, is essential.