title: Factors affecting job satisfaction and their correlation with educational standards among dental assistants.
abstract: A disparity exists in the educational qualifications of dental assistants working in various public and private institutions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of professional and personal characteristics on job satisfaction among dental assistants. A cross-sectional survey was performed among dental assistants using a 24-item self-administered questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between overall job satisfaction and other variables. The overall response rate was 72.1%. Factor analysis suggested that five underlying factors were related to job satisfaction. The mean score for overall job satisfaction was 3.86 (satisfied) out of 5. Among the work environment factors, the highest mean score, 4.26 (satisfied), was obtained for quality of service, and the lowest mean score, 2.78 (neutral), was obtained for the perception of income. The income and general prospects of the profession was significantly associated with overall job satisfaction. This study suggests that for dental assistants, professional and personal life, quality of service, perception of income and prestige and self-respect are important factors for job satisfaction. Despite differences in professional formation standards, in general, the study participants were considerably satisfied with their jobs.
authors.affiliation: Dental Caries Research Chair, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Yousra H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Al Jazairy
authors.forename: Hassan Suliman
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Halawany
authors.forename: Nawaf Al
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hussainan
authors.forename: Nassr Al
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Maflehi
authors.forename: Nimmi Biju
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Vimal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003726:Dental Assistants / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012649:Self Concept; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
references.citation: J Can Dent Assoc. 1990 Jul;56(7):617-20
references.pmid: 2397422
references.citation: Br Dent J. 2011 Feb 26;210(4):E5
references.pmid: 21293494
references.citation: J Allied Health. 1985 Feb;14(1):3-11
references.pmid: 2858463
references.citation: Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2006 Dec;34(6):460-6
references.pmid: 17092275
references.citation: Braz Dent J. 2013;24(1):53-8
references.pmid: 23657414
references.citation: Br Dent Nurs J. 1994 Summer;53(2):2-4
references.pmid: 9563306
references.citation: BMC Health Serv Res. 2006 Mar 14;6:32
references.pmid: 16536870
references.citation: Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2012 Oct;40(5):474-80
references.pmid: 22519887
references.citation: Br Dent J. 1995 Feb 11;178(3):101-4
references.pmid: 7873303
references.citation: Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1996 Apr;24(2):133-7
references.pmid: 8654035
references.citation: J Nurs Adm. 2002 May;32(5):250-63
references.pmid: 12021566
references.citation: Nurs Res. 1993 Jan-Feb;42(1):36-41
references.pmid: 8424066
references.citation: Community Dent Health. 2001 Sep;18(3):172-6
references.pmid: 11580094
references.citation: Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1986 Apr;14(2):76-9
references.pmid: 3457681
references.citation: J Dent Educ. 2012 Oct;76(10):1371-6
references.pmid: 23066137
references.citation: J Public Health Dent. 2009 Winter;69(1):56-61
references.pmid: 18662250
references.citation: Int J Dent Hyg. 2012 Aug;10(3):155-62
references.pmid: 23046004
references.citation: Soc Forces. 1982 Sep;61(1):46-55
references.pmid: 10256838
references.citation: Community Dent Health. 1993 Mar;10(1):73-82
references.pmid: 8495396