Unpromoted female general practice dentists have a working situation with hard work conditions. The aim of the present study was to describe the perceived health for unpromoted female general practice dentists in comparison with others laving a somewhat similar working situation. Questionnaires were sent to all unpromoted female general practice dentists (n=183) within the Public Dental Health Service in a region in Sweden. The response rate was 94%. Comparisons have been done with personnel in the Social Insurance Organization in Sweden and Children Clinics in the Public Health Care in a region in Sweden. The dentists in this study suffered from many physical and mental troubles and also linked them to the working situation. They reported high prevalences of tiredness (70%) and back, neck and shoulder pain (76%) and related these symptoms to the job situation in 83% and 95%, respectively. The study showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001) in the comparison between all the samples that were investigated. In conclusion, the results show problems concerning self-perceived health for the unpromoted female dentists. We have shown that they are feeling unhealthy, worse than other high-risk-groups in a human service working situation, and they suffer from a multitude of problems also connected to their working environment.

Studies have shown that female unpromoted general practice (GP) dentists have a taxing work situation with many problems related to their psychosocial work environment. This study aims to describe 1) the participation for this group in organized network activity (support groups) in a region in Sweden, 2) the sense of support with comparison to another organization and to a nationwide sample of GP dentists, and 3) the covariation of network participation with support. All unpromoted female dentists within the Public Dental Health Service (PDHS) in a region in Sweden received a questionnaire, and 94% re-sponded. Those participating in network activity ≥ 4 times a year constituted 12% of the respondents. The co-operation between colleagues was lower than in the nationwide sample. The experienced support from the organization PDHS was weak. It was not possible to explain why the female unpromoted GP dentists participated ≥ 4 times a year, but the female dentists who felt lonely in their work were to a higher degree participants in a network. Almost nine out of ten reported being strengthened by the network both as a person and in the professional role. The female dentist was three times more likely to participate in a network if she had a male head of the clinic. In conclusion, the main results are the paucity of intercolleague contact and the lack of association between support and network participation. The many affirmative comments indicated though, that network participation might be a good coping strategy for unpromoted female GP dentists.

This study describes how female unpromoted general practice dentists (GPDs) in a region in Sweden perceived “healthy work”, i.e. their image of the dimensions that the dentistry profession should contain if it is to be really healthy work. The study also investigates whether there is a gulf between ideal and reality for this group. All unpromoted GPDs within the Public Dental Health Service’s general practice in a region in Sweden received a questionnaire, and 94% responded. The data were collected during July and August 2000 and the question about healthy work was taken from work environment studies. A principal components analysis was performed. Three factors explaining more than half the variance (53%), forming three well defined vector clusters: 1) a factor for moral values and possibilities for skill discretion, i.e. properties specific for human services, 2) a factor for career development and 3) a factor for work environment. We found that factor 1 alone explained a greater proportion of the variance (28%) for the respondents. The main results were that the female unpromoted GPDs emphasized free and intellectually stimulating work and that the gulf between the ideal and the reality was wide, especially concerning the dentist’s influence on important decisions. A salutogenetic approach built on good communication and democracy at work, and based on freedom and the employees’ influence, could bring ideal and reality closer.

Objective. Female unpromoted general practice dentists (GPDs) constitute about one-quarter of all dentists in Sweden. These female dentists suffer from many problems relating to their psychosocial working conditions. There are wide discrepancies between their perception of the ideal job situation and reality. Previously, three factors were found to constitute the ideal job situation. The aim of this study was to analyze patterns in two of these factors, i.e. the moral and the career factors, for understanding how ideal circumstances are conceived, i.e. how ‘‘good work’’ for the dentists could be obtained. Material and Methods. In the year 2000, all female unpromoted GPDs (183 persons) within the Public Dental Health Service (PDHS) in a region in Sweden received a questionnaire; response rate 94%. Four multiple regression models were constructed for two factors of good work and for the differences between the ideal job situation and reality concerning these factors. Results. In all models, the explained variance was high. Those dentists who were committed to moral issues perceived large differences between the ideal and reality concerning moral values. Dentists committed to career issues experienced large differences between the ideal and reality concerning career development. Those dentists - about 60% - who would not want to be a dentist if they were to choose today, perceived large discrepancies concerning moral and career issues. Conclusions. The PDHS organization has failed to convince or engage those whom it ought to engage, that is those with the highest level of commitment. Dentists’ emphasis on moral values confirms the character of dentistry as primarily a human service work.