Gebhardt Julia Sofie, Harth Volker, Groneberg David A, Mache Stefanie
Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Seewartenstraße 10, 20459 Hamburg, Germany.
Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany.
Clin Pract. 2025 May 12;15(5):92. doi: 10.3390/clinpract15050092.
Digitalisation is becoming increasingly integrated into the field of dentistry; therefore, it is crucial to understand both the challenges it introduces and the opportunities it provides. By doing so, the research will offer insights into how digital tools can affect the work environment and contribute to the overall well-being and performance of dental professionals. The present study aims to explore how dentists perceive the demands and resources within a digitalised dental practice. The present study adopted a qualitative design, incorporating guideline-based interviews. A total of 30 interviews were conducted with dentists from various German dental practices, with a focus on key topics such as job demands, job resources, digital stress factors, job satisfaction, and support needs in the context of digital dentistry. The interview data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings highlight that digital systems in dental practices offer benefits such as reduced errors and time savings, but also pose challenges, especially for less experienced users. While they improve efficiency, precision, and professional development, they can also lead to negative effects like dependence on technology, loss of manual skills, technical failures, and increased stress, particularly during the adaptation phase. These results suggest that successful integration of digital technologies requires adequate support to overcome initial learning curves and ensure long-term benefits. The results of the study underline the importance of effective implementation, comprehensive staff training, and technological reliability to maximise the benefits of digital tools and minimise their drawbacks. Maintaining a balance between digital stressors and resources is crucial to promoting a healthy work environment. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of training programmes and the integration of digital technologies into dental practices to increase their effectiveness in terms of job satisfaction and reduce potential risks.
数字化在牙科领域的融入程度日益加深；因此，了解它所带来的挑战和提供的机遇至关重要。通过这样做，该研究将深入探讨数字工具如何影响工作环境，并对牙科专业人员的整体幸福感和工作表现做出贡献。本研究旨在探究牙医如何看待数字化牙科实践中的需求和资源。本研究采用了定性设计，纳入了基于指南的访谈。共对来自德国不同牙科诊所的牙医进行了30次访谈，重点关注诸如工作需求、工作资源、数字压力因素、工作满意度以及数字化牙科背景下的支持需求等关键主题。访谈数据采用定性内容分析法进行分析。研究结果表明，牙科实践中的数字系统带来了减少错误和节省时间等好处，但也带来了挑战，尤其是对经验不足的用户而言。虽然它们提高了效率、精度和专业发展，但也可能导致诸如对技术的依赖、手工技能的丧失、技术故障以及压力增加等负面影响，特别是在适应阶段。这些结果表明，数字技术的成功整合需要足够的支持，以克服最初的学习曲线并确保长期收益。研究结果强调了有效实施、全面的员工培训和技术可靠性对于最大化数字工具的好处并最小化其弊端的重要性。在数字压力源和资源之间保持平衡对于促进健康的工作环境至关重要。未来的研究应关注培训计划的长期影响以及数字技术在牙科实践中的整合，以提高其在工作满意度方面的有效性并降低潜在风险。
