Occupational stress and job satisfaction in the community dental service of north Wales: a pilot study.

This study was conducted to measure levels of work pressure, job satisfaction and further factors related to occupational stress in community dental service staff in north Wales. The occupational stress indicator and a modified version of the dental work stress inventory were completed by 44 community dental service staff in March 1991. The community dental service staff showed poor levels of job satisfaction and psychosomatic indicators of stress. The perception of control of the individual's working practices was highly influenced by organisational demands. The best predictor of job satisfaction was perceived control followed by work pressures. The dental surgery assistants scored more unfavourably than their dental colleagues on most measures. Dentists consider clinical matters their greatest stress while dental surgery assistants were concerned principally with their working conditions such as pay levels and working hours. The study reflects a somewhat unhappy work situation for community dental service staff which may be temporary and in response to new administrative systems being introduced. A further in-depth assessment of staff is indicated to show whether these results are situation dependent or indicate a more permanent state.