Job satisfaction and perceived future roles of Malaysian dental therapists: findings from a national survey

Awareness and Incorporation of the Dental Home Concept Among General Dentists and Dental Therapists in Malaysia

Background The dental home concept (DHC) refers to an approach in oral healthcare that emphasizes establishing a long-term, comprehensive, and family-centered relationship between a patient and their primary dental care. This study determined the awareness and incorporation of the DHC among general dentists and dental therapists in Malaysia. Methodology A total of 154 general dentists and 137 dental therapists providing oral healthcare services at the Ministry of Health (MOH) primary care facilities throughout Malaysia participated in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure the respondents' awareness of the DHC and incorporation of the DHC characteristics into their practice. Results Most dentists and dental therapists (61.7% and 67.2%, respectively) had not heard of the term DHC and were unaware of the concept. The respondents' awareness was not associated with their age, sex, years of service, facility location, and percentage of treatment given to children aged five years and below. However, most dentists and dental therapists responded positively about incorporating most DHC characteristics into their current practice. Conclusions Most dentists and dental therapists serving the MOH primary oral healthcare facilities were unaware of the DHC, although most DHC characteristics have already been incorporated into their practice. This study provides evidence of the incorporation of the DHC into the MOH primary oral healthcare services and suggests an effort to increase the awareness of the workforce regarding the concept and its implementation.

Career satisfaction amongst dental students and dentists in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey

INTRODUCTION

Dental students' satisfaction with their own career can significantly improve the quality of care provided to patients. The aim of the current study was to assess the level of career satisfaction amongst Saudi dental students and dentists.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2019 to January 2020 all over Saudi Arabia. A sample of 750 Saudi dental students and dentists were invited to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of two sections of closed-ended questions. The first section included personal, professional background factors and level of career satisfaction assessed. The second section included different reasons for choosing dentistry as a career. Multivariable linear regression was used at significance <0.05.

RESULTS

Only 674 responded to the questionnaire. About half of the included respondents were males. Most of the participants were undergraduate students attended Saudi dental schools. 72.3% chose dentistry for helping other people. Graduated dentists had significantly lower satisfaction score than dental students (p = .007). Dentists, who chose dentistry because it is a secured job with good income (p < .001), had significantly lower satisfaction score than those who did not, whilst those who chose it for the social status had significantly higher satisfaction score than those who did not (p = .04).

CONCLUSION

Dental students and dentists were motivated to choose dentistry as it is an opportunity to help others and achieve good salary with appropriate social position in community. Dental students were more satisfied than dentists due to lack of financial responsibilities and absence of educational expenses.

Malaysian dental therapists' job motivation, job satisfaction, intention to leave and perceived future roles

OBJECTIVE

To assess Malaysian dental therapists' job satisfaction, motivation, turnover intention, and perceived future roles, following recent changes in the regulations that allow them to provide dental care within their scope of practice in the private sector.

METHODS

A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to public dental therapists who were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Questions included items on social structure, job satisfaction and motivation (based on the Warr-Cook-Wall scale), turnover intention (based on four cognitive processes) and perceived future roles. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the predictors of dental therapists' turnover intention.

RESULTS

Overall, a majority (> 90%) of participants had high job satisfaction and job motivation, with total mean scores of 45.70 ± 6.86 and 21.16 ± 2.63, respectively. A total of 8.3% intended to leave the public sector to work in a different organisation. Of those who chose to remain as a dental therapist in the next five years, only 7% considered working in the private sector. The significant predictors for turnover intention were educational attainment, years of working experience, job satisfaction level and future preferred working sector.

CONCLUSION

Although the newly introduced Dental Act allows dental therapists to expand their roles to the private setting, very few intended to do so. This could be related to them having a high level of job satisfaction and job motivation while serving in the public sector.

A global review of the education and career pathways of dental therapists, dental hygienists and oral health therapists

Introduction With ongoing needs in oral healthcare being unmet, dental therapists, dental hygienists and oral health therapists have the potential to assume greater roles and responsibilities in the provision of care. This review provides a global overview of the education and career opportunities of these professions, contributing to the discussion on the future trajectories of all three professions.Methods A scoping review was conducted to collate and summarise the current available evidence from peer-reviewed journal articles, published reports and books, and websites of professional associations and government agencies.Results Of the 145 sources identified and reviewed, 53 were included in the qualitative synthesis. The themes were categorised into domains: 1) dental therapy; 2) dental hygiene; and 3) oral health therapy.Conclusion The results of this review indicated that, although there has been continuous advocacy for dental therapists, dental hygienists and oral health therapists to assume roles beyond the traditional clinical practice, the majority of the professionals still mainly practise as clinicians. Many dental therapists, dental hygienists and oral health therapists felt limited by their scope of practice and were dissatisfied with the lack of career pathways. Additional research is needed to examine the influences behind career development for all three professions.