Perceptions of intimidation and bullying in dental schools: a multi-national study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine first year dental students' perceptions of intimidation by instructors and bullying by fellow students.


METHODS
Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of first year dental students from seven dental schools representing five countries; one each from Romania, South Africa, Australia and the U.S.A., and three from Malaysia. Self-report questionnaires were administered to participants at least six months after they had commenced their dental degree course during 2005-6.


RESULTS
Over a third (34.6%) reported that they had been intimidated or badly treated by their tutors/instructors and 17% reported that they had been bullied or badly treated by their fellow students in the recent past. There were statistically significant differences in reports of intimidation by instructors between the different dental schools. Intimidation by instructors was associated with a history of medication use for stress, anxiety and depression, and perceived stress in the past month. There were no statistically significant variations in reports of bullying by fellow students between different dental schools. Bullying by fellow students was associated with dieting to lose weight, self-reported general health and perceived stress.


CONCLUSIONS
This multi-national study highlights that intimidation and bullying is prevalent within dental teaching and training environments. Future research is needed to explore their impact on students' wellbeing and academic progress as well as on patient care.


CONCLUSIONS
Dentists are the best recruiters for the profession. If the dental school experience is a negative one it can have significant impact on the future of the profession
Rowland
Michael L
ML
Division of Primary Care, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, USA. Michael.Rowland@louisville.edu
Naidoo
Sudeshni
S
AbdulKadir
Rahimah
R
Moraru
Ruxandra
R
Huang
Boyen
B
Pau
Allan
A
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001315:Australia; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D012383:Romania; D012575:Schools, Dental; D013019:South Africa; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs