title: Quality management and job related factors predicting satisfaction of dental clinic staff in Estonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to explore the role of managerial style, work environment factors and burnout in determining job satisfaction during the implementation of quality improvement activities in a dental clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative research was carried out using a prestructured anonymous questionnaire to survey 302 respondents in Kaarli Dental Clinic, Estonia. Dental clinic staff assessed job satisfaction, managerial style, work stress and burnout levels through the implementation period of ISO 9000 quality management system in 2003 and annually during 2006-2009. Binary logistic regression was used to explain the impact of satisfaction with management and work organisation, knowledge about managerial activities, work environment and psychosocial stress and burnout on job satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate limits were between 60% and 89.6%. Job satisfaction increased significantly from 2003 to 2006 and the percentage of very satisfied staff increased from 17 to 38 (p<0.01) over this period. In 2007, the proportion of very satisfied people dropped to 21% before increasing again in 2008-2009 (from 24% to 35%). Binary logistic regression analysis resulted in a model that included five groups of factors: managerial support, information about results achieved and progress to goals, work organisation and working environment, as well as factors related to career, security and planning. The average scores of emotional exhaustion showed significant decrease, correlating negatively with job satisfaction (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of quality improvement activities in the Kaarli Dental Clinic has improved the work environment by decreasing burnout symptoms and increased job satisfaction in staff.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Str Ravila, 50411 Tartu, Estonia. eda.merisalu@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Eda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merisalu
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Männik
authors.forename: Kaja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Põlluste
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D004957:Estonia; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D013192:Staff Development; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult