title: Career satisfaction among dental practitioners in Srikakulam, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This cross-sectional study was designed to measure the level and distribution of job satisfaction of registered dental practitioners and to explore the factors associated with it.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted among 66 registered dentists in Srikakulam, India. Job satisfaction was measured by using a modified version of the Dentists Satisfaction Survey questionnaire. The statistical tests employed were "t" test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Post hoc test (Scheffe test) was employed for multiple comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 82.5%. The mean score of overall job satisfaction among dentists was 3.08 out of 5. The most satisfying aspect was income (3.7) and the least satisfying aspect was staff (2.5). Overall satisfaction increased with age. Male practitioners showed less satisfaction with staff, income, and overall satisfaction and more satisfaction in professional relations and time, when compared to females. Job satisfaction was found to be more in practitioners with postgraduate qualification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that patient relations, perception of income, personal time, and staff are the important factors for job satisfaction among dentists. The findings of this study will be helpful to policymakers to design plans in order to increase the level of job satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sree Sai Dental College and Research Institute, Srikakulam, India.
authors.forename: Sudhakar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaipa
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sree Sai Dental College and Research Institute, Srikakulam, India.
authors.forename: Siva Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pydi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Narayana Dental College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Rathikota Veeravenkata Sathyasai
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Krishna Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Narayana Dental College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Gomasani
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Srinivasulu
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Best Dental Science College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Venkata Rajesh Kumar
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Darsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Best Dental Science College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Munikumar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sode
keywords: Career satisfaction; India; dental practitioners