Page 11 - GP Fall 2024

always feeling or frequently feeling physi- gers. The data suggests that work-related ulum. A study by Stark et al. that evaluated
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cally or emotionally exhausted, and 26 per- stress may lead to burnout. The study re- the self-care behaviors of nursing students
cent were dealing with physical ailments ported that a majority of the respondents felt and other health professionals, showed sig-
such as headaches and back pain, with back that having more time for self-care activities nificant increase in health behaviors among
aches frequently most reported. Other fac- and improved work conditions would be the students when receiving curricular in-
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tors leading to stress were associated with beneficial stress reduction interventions. 7 tervention. Some stress management com-
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dealing with uncooperative patients, work- ponents suggested to be incorporated into
load, government interventions and the con- Another study of 848 dental hygienists find- the dental curriculum include financial and
stant drive for technical perfection. Some of ings suggests that work overload, anxiety, business management, interpersonal skills
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the reasons for the stressors include working depression, and emotional stress all have and communication skills, management of
in a small confined work area in terms of an effect on job satisfaction, with physi- difficult patients, stress management tech-
the physical space as well as working in the cal stress related to leaving the profession niques, interviewing skills and effective lis-
small oral cavity space. Long hours of sit- in one year. The study also suggested that tening skills. Encouraging dental hygiene
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ting with a lack of movement during the day hygienists become emotionally upset about students to eat healthier diets low in sugar
and using precise, slow hand movements their work, become emotionally involved and fats and to add physical activity can
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with a fixed eye on a specific spot also con- and feel an emotional burden. Like dentists, help manage stress. 9
tributed to stress. Having high standards of hygienists feel a strong sense of responsi-
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performance and high expectations can also bility and professionalism to their patients, Managing Stress
lead to stress. Dental team stress is also which can lead to occupational stress. Self- The stressors associated with the dental
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problematic, especially among dental assis- care interventions are needed to help den- health profession are not going to change.
tants who work closely with dentists. Poor tists and dental hygiene professionals de- Therefore, it is important for dental profes-
communication and perception of each oth- crease emotional demands of the workplace. sionals to learn stress management tech-
er’s stress, role ambiguity, underuse of skills niques for better mental and physical health,
and low self-esteem among dental assistants Like the studies looking at dentists, there are thus improving their quality of life.
are also contributing factors . limitations due to the small sample size of
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respondents and limited studies. More stud- Self-Care
Burnout and Stress Among Dental Hy- ies on a larger scale are needed to study the By implementing good self-care behaviors,
gienists effects of stress and anxiety on dental pro- dental professionals can find that dealing
Burnout and stress are also concerns for fessionals. The limited studies do show an with stress is a lot more manageable. Below
dental hygienists. A study conducted 20 association between the dental workplace are good self-care behaviors to adapt:
years ago by Deckard and Roundtree focus- environment and stress, but more research
ing on burnout, reported respondents feeling needs to be done. 1. Eat more fruits and vegetables, lean
emotionally exhausted, experiencing high proteins, whole grains, and low-fat or
levels of depersonalization, and having neg- Dental and Dental Hygiene Students no-fat dairy. Limit unhealthy fats, salt,
ative feelings about their daily tasks. More Stress does not begin once individuals enter and added sugars. A healthy diet can
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recent studies show hygienists have occu- the workforce; it starts in dental and dental reduce inflammation in the body and
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pational stress related to lack of autonomy hygiene school. Any licensed professional bolster the immune system. Foods
and decision-making in the workplace. Hy- knows and understands that the rigors of high in sugar can leave a person feeling
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gienists with lower levels of autonomy and these programs are incredibly stressful and bloated, tired, and sluggish. 10
struggling to identify professional roles had can have a negative impact on the mental
more burnout. Other factors contributing to and physical health of the students. The 2. Get enough sleep. Most adults need
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burnout include, demanding schedules and most significant stressors include academic seven or more hours of sleep each
patients, lack of time, and musculoskeletal performance in didactic and clinical cours- night. Adequate sleep each night can
complaints. Musculoskeletal problems are es, general workload, patient care, and li- help avoid the stressors that occur
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a main reason for dental hygienists reducing censing exams, which affect the quality of when an individual is sleep deprived.
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worktime. Missed time from work can lead life of individuals. Adding to that are work Those stressors include deficient per-
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to loss of income creating stress. Sick leave demands, family and social obligations. formance, difficulty thinking clearly,
among hygienists has been shown to be sig- Two studies conducted in the UK found and lack of energy. Adequate sleep can
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nificantly higher for hygienists with muscu- a high proportion of dental students and help to reduce anxiety and depression.
loskeletal disorders. Work-family overload young dentists drank excessively and exper- 3. Regular exercise can help reduce stress
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are also contributing factors. Other stress- imented with illicit drugs. In the final year because it reduces stress hormones
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ors include wanting to provide high quality of dental training 67 percent of the dental such as adrenaline and cortisol. Ex-
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preventive oral health care to patients with students had experienced possible patholog- ercise can stimulate the production of
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the least amount of pain in a fast-paced ical anxiety. Concerns about the stress of endorphins, chemicals in the brain re-
work environment. Hygienists report lack the educational programs are leading to ex- sponsible for “runner’s high” and feel-
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of support from co-workers, low job satis- haustion, anxiety, and burnout even before ings of relaxation and optimism. 12
faction, no breaks during the day, and anx- entering the workforce. The educational de-
iety from role competition with dentists as mands are leading students to neglect self- 4. Reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol
contributors. A recent study among mem- care. This neglect can lead to stress-related can leave the body dehydrated and act
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bers of the Oregon Dental Hygienists As- illnesses, including digestive disorders, de- as a depressant. Alcohol should be
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sociation (ODHA) on the effects of stress, creased immunity, sleep issues, depression, limited to two drinks or less a day for
identified that half of the 83 respondents re- headaches, irritability, and anger. 9 men and one drink or less for women. 13
ported moderate levels of daily stress, with
lack of time in the schedule, physical pain Educational programs need to consider in-
and neediness of patients as common trig- corporating self-care into the course curric- www.nysagd.org l Fall 2024 l GP 11