Summary of: Understanding emotionally relevant situations in primary dental practice. 2. Reported effects of emotionally charged situations

Key Points

• Describes the effects of occupational stress on dentists.

• Describes the coping strategies used by dentists in difficult clinical situations.

• Discusses the implications of dentists' psychological well-being.

• Describes dentists' self report effects of emotions on their decision-making.

• Discusses the impact on patient care.

Abstract

Background and aims Dentistry is widely reported to be a stressful profession. There is a limited body of research relating to the coping strategies used by dentists whilst in clinical situations. This study aims to use qualitative methods to explore the full extent of the coping strategies associated with stressful events in primary dental practice.

Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 dentists within a 50 mile radius of Lincoln. A thematic analysis was conducted on verbatim transcriptions thereby identifying six themes and 35 codes.

Results Participants described both problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies. The strategies used had a variety of outcomes in the context of use. Most dentists denied that their emotions affected their decision making, but then proceeded to describe how they were influential.

Discussion and conclusion Dentists use a wide variety of coping strategies some of which are maladaptive. Training in the development and recognition of appropriate coping decisions would be appropriate as they would, potentially, improve practitioner decision making and well-being.

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