title: Job satisfaction of the oral health labour force in Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Job satisfaction among registered clinical dentists in Australia was measured to identify issues influencing recruitment and retention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 2202 dentists, stratified by state and gender, selected from the 2005 Australian Dental Association directory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 61.9% of dentists responded. Analyses showed significant differences in levels of satisfaction for various dimensions of job satisfaction by gender, age group, practice type and geographic area. Differences in satisfaction between male and female dentists related to the relationships with colleagues and administrative responsibilities dimensions. Dentists of different age groups differed on eight dimensions: relationships with colleagues, patients, staff; personal time; intrinsic satisfaction; community; administrative responsibilities and resources. Differences among private and public dentists related to autonomy, relationships with patients, staff, community, compensation and resources dimensions. Dentists working in different geographic areas differed on relationships with staff and community dimensions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences existed between private and public dentists, metropolitan and non-metropolitan dentists, male and female dentists and dentists of different ages. Such differences should be addressed in order to improve recruitment and retention rates of dentists. Workplaces that offer job autonomy, competitive pay, flexible working hours and minimal administrative burden may improve dentist job satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, South Australia. liana.luzzi@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luzzi
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D019058:Community Networks; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000523:psychology; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011215:Practice Management, Dental; D011331:Private Practice; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011364:Professional Practice; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D019037:Urban Health Services; D055815:Young Adult