Stress and associated factors among dentists.

Objective: Studies have shown that dentists are experiencing stress at work and it might have an impact on general health. Dental students have reported negative effect of stress starting in undergraduate studies period. The various predisposing factors have been identified and determined. The aim of our study was to determine and compare stress among dentists of different specializations.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in March-September 2016 among 317 dentists. 151 (48%) form public and 166 (52%) from private clinics. All participants were dental practitioners working in Kaunas, Lithuania. A modified version of Occupational stress questionnaire (Institute of Health, Helsinki, Finland, 1992) was used. Chi-square, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test Mann-Whitney U tests, Student's (t) criterion and logistic regression analysis model served for statistical analysis.

Results: Majority of dentists were women (85%) and 61.8% of all participants were general practitioners. More general practitioners and paediatric dentists specialists were working in public clinics. The most stressful factors were: restrictions, work tension, and responsibility, while least stressful were value of work, work and life satisfaction (p<0.05). The intensive stress (>3) was indicated mostly by general practitioners, pediatric dentists and periodontologists.

Conclusions: Stress is more experienced by dentists working in public clinic being as a general practitioner or having specialization of periodontologist or pediatric dentist. Dentists should be encouraged to take stress management course to cope with.