The Prevalence Of Burnout In Saudi Arabia Dental Hygienists

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the prevalence of burnout in Saudi Arabian dental hygienists and identify risk factors associated with burnout. Methods: A descriptive survey design using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) assessed burnout among a convenience sample of n=123 Saudi dental hygienists. The survey was disseminated electronically to 1,000 Saudi Arabian dental hygienists. The CBI measures three subscales: personal, work-related, and client/patient-related burnout on a five-point Likert-type scale. The survey also included six demographic questions, two Likert-type, one “yes/no,” and one open- ended question, related to burnout. Descriptive statistics, one-way between subject’s ANOVA, independent samples t-test, and chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Results: One hundred and twenty-three Saudi Arabian dental hygienists completed the survey with a 12% response rate. Participants indicated overall moderate burnout (M=53.54), with personal (M=60.84) and work-related (M=54.70) burnout also in the moderate range. Participants working in government facilities had significantly higher personal (p < .001), work-related (p < .001), and client/patient-related (p = .026) burnout than those in the “Other” practice category. Female Saudi hygienists had significantly higher overall (p = .007), personal (p < .001), and work-related (p = .008) burnout scores compared to male Saudi dental hygienists. Conclusions: Results from this study suggest Saudi Arabian dental hygienists display moderate levels of workplace burnout, with the highest prevalence rate in personal burnout. Findings underscore the need for further research with an expanded sample size to identify stressors that lead to burnout and identify mitigation strategies to promote a healthier working climate for practicing Saudi dental hygienists.