title: A qualitative investigation of specialist orthodontists in New Zealand: part 2. Orthodontists' working lives and work-life balance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orthodontics is the most widely practised form of specialist dentistry in New Zealand. To date, no known qualitative research has been published examining the work-life balance of practitioners. The aim of this study was to investigate the working lives and work-life balance of NZ orthodontists in order to generate an understanding of the reality of orthodontic specialist practice and its effects on orthodontists' professional and personal lives.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted involving 19 practising orthodontists (four females, 15 males; mean age 50 years) from throughout New Zealand and selected for maximum variation in the sample. Transcribed interviews were analysed for themes using an applied grounded theory approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A core category of 'practising orthodontist' was derived, and related themes were grouped under the sub-categories of: (a) NZ orthodontic specialist practice; (b) NZ specialist orthodontists; and (c) Work-life balance. The present paper reports on the final sub-category. Themes emerging from the work-life sub-category were further divided into two sub-themes of 'work' and 'life'. Themes in the 'work' subgroup included time off, injuries and illness, regrets, personality traits, job stress and criticism, establishing a practice, peer support and contact, and success in orthodontics. Themes in the 'life' sub-group were personal development, family life, life balance and interests outside work, and financial security.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was the first qualitative investigation of the orthodontic profession in New Zealand. The findings provided a valuable insight into the working lives of New Zealand orthodontists and effects on their day-today lives. It will be revealing and interesting to observe how the modernisation of orthodontic practice will affect the work-life balance of New Zealand orthodontists in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kieran J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Soma
authors.forename: W Murray
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Kate C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Morgaine
authors.forename: Winifred J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Harding
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000523:psychology; D009970:Orthodontics; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D011364:Professional Practice; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload