Burnout and health among Dutch dentists

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