A preliminary survey of occupational health and workplace violence among 1109 Chinese dentists: a call to action
Abstract Background Dentists are prone to a variety of occupational health problems and are at a high risk of workplace violence due to the nature of their dental practice. The aim of this study was to assess the state of occupational health and the prevalence of workplace violence among dentists in...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22383-2 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850065657212698624 |
|---|---|
| author | Lintong Yu Ce Zhu Jun Wang |
| author_facet | Lintong Yu Ce Zhu Jun Wang |
| author_sort | Lintong Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Dentists are prone to a variety of occupational health problems and are at a high risk of workplace violence due to the nature of their dental practice. The aim of this study was to assess the state of occupational health and the prevalence of workplace violence among dentists in China. Additionally, this research endeavored to offer practical recommendations for Chinese dentists and relevant institutions based on the findings. Methods The survey was conducted based on a sample of 1109 dentists from China as respondents to an electronic questionnaire survey. This self-reported questionnaire encompassed 14 distinct types of injuries, 28 specific diseases, 11 symptoms of sub-health state, and 3 categories of workplace violence. Results In dental practice, the most common injuries are needlestick incidents and falls, each affecting 54.28% of dentists. Conditions like lumbar and cervical spondylosis, along with scapulohumeral periarthritis, are prevalent, with 53.02% and 45.99% of dentists reporting these issues, respectively. Our univariate analysis highlighted significant health disparities among dentists, influenced by gender and department. Additionally, our findings underscore the harsh reality of verbal, physical, and sexual harassment faced by Chinese dentists, which has a profound negative impact and is met with woefully inadequate protective measures. Conclusion and recommendation Chinese dentists face significant physical and psychological stress, further exacerbated by verbal abuse, physical violence, and sexual harassment. It is imperative that hospitals, clinics, and governmental agencies step up to their responsibilities by fostering a secure work environment for Chinese dentists. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-df2f537aab1b4de8b2f22bc883420952 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-df2f537aab1b4de8b2f22bc8834209522025-08-20T02:48:57ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-03-012511910.1186/s12889-025-22383-2A preliminary survey of occupational health and workplace violence among 1109 Chinese dentists: a call to actionLintong Yu0Ce Zhu1Jun Wang2Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology; Shanghai Research Institute of StomatologyDepartment of Paediatric Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology; Shanghai Research Institute of StomatologyDepartment of Paediatric Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology; Shanghai Research Institute of StomatologyAbstract Background Dentists are prone to a variety of occupational health problems and are at a high risk of workplace violence due to the nature of their dental practice. The aim of this study was to assess the state of occupational health and the prevalence of workplace violence among dentists in China. Additionally, this research endeavored to offer practical recommendations for Chinese dentists and relevant institutions based on the findings. Methods The survey was conducted based on a sample of 1109 dentists from China as respondents to an electronic questionnaire survey. This self-reported questionnaire encompassed 14 distinct types of injuries, 28 specific diseases, 11 symptoms of sub-health state, and 3 categories of workplace violence. Results In dental practice, the most common injuries are needlestick incidents and falls, each affecting 54.28% of dentists. Conditions like lumbar and cervical spondylosis, along with scapulohumeral periarthritis, are prevalent, with 53.02% and 45.99% of dentists reporting these issues, respectively. Our univariate analysis highlighted significant health disparities among dentists, influenced by gender and department. Additionally, our findings underscore the harsh reality of verbal, physical, and sexual harassment faced by Chinese dentists, which has a profound negative impact and is met with woefully inadequate protective measures. Conclusion and recommendation Chinese dentists face significant physical and psychological stress, further exacerbated by verbal abuse, physical violence, and sexual harassment. It is imperative that hospitals, clinics, and governmental agencies step up to their responsibilities by fostering a secure work environment for Chinese dentists.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22383-2DentistsOccupational healthWorkplace violenceQuestionnaire surveyChina |
| spellingShingle | Lintong Yu Ce Zhu Jun Wang A preliminary survey of occupational health and workplace violence among 1109 Chinese dentists: a call to action BMC Public Health Dentists Occupational health Workplace violence Questionnaire survey China |
| title | A preliminary survey of occupational health and workplace violence among 1109 Chinese dentists: a call to action |
| title_full | A preliminary survey of occupational health and workplace violence among 1109 Chinese dentists: a call to action |
| title_fullStr | A preliminary survey of occupational health and workplace violence among 1109 Chinese dentists: a call to action |
| title_full_unstemmed | A preliminary survey of occupational health and workplace violence among 1109 Chinese dentists: a call to action |
| title_short | A preliminary survey of occupational health and workplace violence among 1109 Chinese dentists: a call to action |
| title_sort | preliminary survey of occupational health and workplace violence among 1109 chinese dentists a call to action |
| topic | Dentists Occupational health Workplace violence Questionnaire survey China |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22383-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lintongyu apreliminarysurveyofoccupationalhealthandworkplaceviolenceamong1109chinesedentistsacalltoaction AT cezhu apreliminarysurveyofoccupationalhealthandworkplaceviolenceamong1109chinesedentistsacalltoaction AT junwang apreliminarysurveyofoccupationalhealthandworkplaceviolenceamong1109chinesedentistsacalltoaction AT lintongyu preliminarysurveyofoccupationalhealthandworkplaceviolenceamong1109chinesedentistsacalltoaction AT cezhu preliminarysurveyofoccupationalhealthandworkplaceviolenceamong1109chinesedentistsacalltoaction AT junwang preliminarysurveyofoccupationalhealthandworkplaceviolenceamong1109chinesedentistsacalltoaction |