P. B. Ionov, A. O. Karelin

Peculiarities of quality of life in pediatric dentists working in municipal dental clinics

I. P. PAVLOV FIRST SAINT-PETERSBURG STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, SAINT-PETERSBURG

The studies on specific features of quality of life and factors which influence different areas of quality of life in pediatric dentists are of importance to develop programs to maintain health and improve quality of life of these specialists. By now data about quality of life in pediatric dentists is lacking. One hundred and twenty dentists from 8 municipal dental clinics of St. Petersburg that provide dental care for children were included in the study. All the dentists completed generic quality of life questionnaire RAND SF-36. According to specialization the distribution among dentists was as follows: pediatric dentists (therapists) - n=83, orthodontic dentists - n=25, dental surgeons - n=12. For comparison the control group from the quality of life population study of St. Petersburg was used (n=120). Social, emotional functioning, mental health and vitality in dentists working in municipal dental clinics were lower than in control group. No significant differences between subgroups of dentists according to specialization were found, except lower physical functioning of dental surgeons. ?Age and length of professional experience were found to have impact on quality of life in pediatric dentists. The majority of pediatric dentists working in municipal dental clinics (75 %) had chronic diseases and disorders of skeletal-muscular system that negatively impacted their quality of life. Further studies are worthwhile to develop prophylactic measures for quality of life maintenance among pediatric dentists working in municipal dental clinics.