Job Satisfaction and Perceived Importance of Oral Medicine Amongst Dentists

BACKGROUND: Compounded by the needs of an aging society, interactions between oral condition and systemic diseases may require that dentists pursue additional training in oral medicine beyond that received in dental school. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pursuing oral medicine professional education is recognised by dental practitioners as an important factor regarding job satisfaction. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 1,379 dental practitioners in Japan, along with a follow-up survey to assess repeatability, in 2017. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items/questions related to the respondents’ attributes and job satisfaction (5 items), willingness to learn oral medicine (4 items), willingness to learn more about dentistry (4 items), and willingness to contribute to society (6 items). Representative questions were extracted via binomial logistic regression analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationships between job satisfaction and the explanatory variables. RESULTS: Amongst 337 respondents, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed an association between strong job satisfaction (n = 126, 37%) and willingness to learn more about oral medicine and dentistry and contribute to society, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 4.22 (1.84-9.68), 3.16 (1.16-8.62), and 7.32 (3.14-17.06) and κ values of 0.38, 0.58, and 0.51, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results from dental practitioners suggest additional benefits of oral medicine professional education for future job satisfaction.