| 3402 Dentists' Satisfaction in Private Practice in Japan | ||
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Y. NAKAI1, P. MILGROM2, T. YOSHIDA3, C. ISHIHARA1, and T. SHIMONO4, 1Okayama University, Japan, 2University of Washington, Seattle, USA, 3Okayama University Dental School, Okayama, Okayama, Japan, 4Okayama University, Okayama City, Japan Objective: This study described Japanese dentists' satisfaction, physical practice, and dentist and patient characteristics of dental practices in Japan. Methods: 478 members of the Okayama Medical and Dental Practitioners Association were mail-surveyed using the Total Design Method (TDM). A 9-page, 27-item questionnaire, which covered 4 categories of dentist satisfaction, physical practice, and dentist and patient characteristics, was designed. The differences between dentists satisfied and dissatisfied were analyzed. Results: The overall response rate was 46.7 %( 223/478). 9.0% was female. Mean age was 45.6 (SD=10.1, range 29-88). The median number of years in practice was 11.9 with range from 0.3 to 54 years. 77.1% received postgraduate training (median 3.2 years), 84.9% owned their practice, 5.6% reported practicing at two or more locations, and 78.7% reported to have taken CDE within the past 12 months. 71.5% reported that patients aged less than 5 years frustrated most, and 43.8% reported that patients aged 6 to 12 years frustrated second most to deal with at the chair side. 75.8% dentists were at least somewhat satisfied with their practice. Dentists satisfied differed from dentists dissatisfied on practice status (%not busy enough, 22.8 vs. 44.2; chi=9.32, p=0.009), yearly gross income (%less than\30,000,000, 19.1 vs. 43.8; chi=16.28, p=0.038), years of graduation (1981 vs. 1984; t=2.627, p=0.009), new patient number seen per week (16.1 vs. 7.7; t=-2.797, p=0.006), distribution of patient age categories less than 5 years old (mean%, 6.2 vs. 4.4; t=-2.03, p=0.044) and 6 to 12 years old (mean%, 8.2 vs. 6.4; t=-2.00, p=0.047). Conclusions: Majority of Japanese dentists surveyed felt satisfied with their practice, but felt some difficulty to face child patients. Education on behavioral management technique for children should be needed in Japanese dental curriculum. | ||
| Seq #355 - Stress, Health Promotion, and Clinical Trials 10:15 AM-11:30 AM, Saturday, 13 March 2004 Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Hall 1-2 | ||
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