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The aim of the present study was to determine the long‐term effects of a burnout‐intervention program among Dutch dentists using a longitudinal design. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Dutch version: MBI‐NL), at the initial measurement in 1997 a 'burnout risk group' (n=171) was identified. This group received feedback on their scores and was invited to participate in an intervention program. Of the total group, 19 dentists participated in an intervention program. After the end of the intervention program, 92 dentists (the 19 participants and a control group) responded to a post‐intervention survey in 1998. These dentists were approached once more 1 yr later, and this time 78 dentists (84.8%) returned a questionnaire. While demonstrating an improvement on all subscales of the MBI‐NL at the first post‐test, results show that the program participants showed a relapse at the second post‐test. Controls who took action on their own initiative, on the other hand, reported a beneficial effect in the long run. Finally, controls that did not take any preventive action showed little or no progress. Possible causes for these findings are discussed, including the influence of coping style, perceived control, confounding factors, demand characteristics, and the necessity of post‐intervention follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it was hypothesised that dentists with a high burnout risk would experience more health complaints and show more unhealthy behavior when compared with dentists with a low burnout risk. With a response rate of 75%, a representative group of 709 actively practicing 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 behavior. 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 behavior 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work stress among dentists has been described several times, indicating a diversity of causes of stress. Professional burnout among dentists has been the subject of empirical study only occasionally. The aim of the present study was to investigate which occupational factors are related to levels of burnout among Dutch dentists. A distinction was made between actual work place characteristics and experienced pressure from specific aspects of dental work. With a response rate of 75%, a representative group of 709 Dutch general dental practitioners responded to a questionnaire containing a Dutch version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-NL), the Dentists' Experienced Work Stress Scale (DEWSS), and a collection of items on work place conditions. No actual work place condition could be demonstrated to be correlated with high burnout levels. Lack of career perspective appeared to be the stress factor most strongly related to burnout. Mean burnout levels of all dentists were found to be favourable in comparison with Dutch norm scores: dentists showed less Emotional Exhaustion, less Depersonalization, and more Personal Accomplishment. It is concluded that the relation between lack of career perspective and burnout should stimulate serious attention for career planning among dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent development within burnout research is the shift to its conceptual opposite: work engagement. This study aimed to unravel the concepts of burnout and work engagement, and to determine their levels among dentists. A representative sample of 497 Dutch general dental practitioners was included (survey response rate of 59%), consisting of 372 men and 121 women (the gender of 4 dentists remained unknown). The hypothesized three-factor structure of work engagement (vigor, dedication, and absorption), as measured by the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), was substantiated among dentists. It was also found that work engagement was related negatively to burnout, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). However, a model consisting of a reduced (‘core’) burnout factor and an ‘enhanced’ engagement factor (composed of the three original factors plus the burnout factor, personal accomplishment) showed the best fit. Overall burnout levels among dentists are low, and the levels of engagement indicate that dentists have a positive working attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge on the development of burnout among dentists is important for purposes of prevention and intervention. Using a two-wave longitudinal design, this study examined the chronological sequence of the three dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory: emotional exhaustion; depersonalization; and personal accomplishment. Structural Equation Modelling was employed among a representative sample of Dutch dentists to examine the fit of several models proposed in earlier research. The results indicated that a model in which emotional exhaustion precedes depersonalization, which in turn precedes personal accomplishment, shows an adequate fit among dentists. However, an alternative model, in which personal accomplishment precedes emotional exhaustion, had an even better fit. In addition to the test of these a priori models, an ad hoc model was constructed that best fitted the current data. This model indicated emotional exhaustion to precede the development of depersonalization and personal accomplishment independently. Although not univocal, the results showed that emotional exhaustion should not be discarded as an early sign of burnout. This is in line with the view that emotional exhaustion can be considered as the key dimension of burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]