Job satisfaction of dentists in the public sector in the Western Cape

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:It can safely be assumed that work is a central part of people's daily activitiesin modem times, and dentists and other health workers are no exception to thisrule. The following benefits have been ascribed to having a job, namely thatof being a source of money, activity, variety, temporal structure, socialcontacts, status and identity in society.To what extent does the job as dentist in the civil service provide fulfilmentof these basic requirements of having a satisfying job? Considering thenumber of resignations in recent years of state employed dentists and the wellknown and often reported brain drain of South African professionals, it isimportant to assess the status of job satisfaction amongst our healthprofessionals, especially those within the state employ. These dentists areresponsible for the health care delivery to the impoverished masses who makeup a large proportion of the South African population.This study set out to determine the level of job satisfaction among statedentists and how this is perceived by them and reflected in their workperformance. It was the aim of the researcher to provide some insight into theworking lives of a very important sector of the primary health care providersemployed by the Department of Health of the Western Cape ProvincialGovernment. The outcome of the study could be used as a basis for furtherresearch in this area.A survey was conducted among all state employed dentists in the WesternCape, excluding dentists attached to the military or academic institutions. Thesurvey instrument consisted of a structured, quantitative questionnaire as wellas an open-ended section for comment on specific issues. Furthermore, an indepthsemi-structured interview was conducted with one dentist in order towrite a case report on the work experience of a state employed dentist.The major fmdings of this study are the following:i) The main determinants of job satisfaction revolve around the workenvironment, and dentists in state employ enjoy staff support, feelgood about what they do for patients, and the standard of work done,but are unhappy about income, lack of respect by patients, seniormanagement and colleagues in private practice. Limited treatmentoptions, poor procurement systems and frequent breakdown ofequipment affect their sense of job satisfaction negatively.ii) The level of dissatisfaction is not of such a proportion to persuadethem to leave the service, as most dentists would like to remain in theirposts. However, most dentists agree that there are no incentives forimproving work performance.iii) Dentists responded to their sense of job satisfaction in different ways.While some admitted that their performance is directly linked to howwell it is going at work, a large percentage of respondents reported thatthey do not allow their work performance to be influenced by theirperceived job dissatisfaction.iv) Ifwe look at the case study, it is evident that perceived satisfaction ordissatisfaction depends on the individual and how he or she views theworld. In this particular case the dentist was very realistic about hisambitions as a person and as a dentist, and set goals for himself withinthese boundaries. The result is that he remains motivated and satisfied.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University