Work engagement among Dutch dental hygienists

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the level of work engagement among Dutch dental hygienists.

Methods: A total of 1,520 questionnaires were randomly distributed to the members of the Dutch Dental Hygienists' Association (Nederlandse Vereniging van Mondhygiënisten). The questionnaire consisted of the short form Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, a hypothesized three-factor structure of work engagement (Vigor, Dedication, and Absorption). Participants ranked statements about how they felt at work on 7-point rating scales (0 = never to 6 = always).

Results: From a sample of 490 dental hygienists (32 percent) with a mean age of 38.2 years [standard deviation (SD) = 10.1], the mean level of work engagement was 4.77 (SD = 0.90). The mean score on the dimension of Vigor was 4.74 (SD = 0.74), Dedication was 5.08 (SD = 0.89), and Absorption was 4.48 (SD = 1.12). A significant correlation was found between the dimension Absorption and age (r = -0.11, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Dutch dental hygienists reported a very high level of work engagement. Many dental hygienists experienced high levels of well-being at work at least once a week, with some reporting high levels of well-being on a daily basis. Only a small percentage of dental hygienists reported experiencing very low levels of well-being at work. Dental hygienists also reported significantly higher scores for work engagement and the three dimensions as compared with the manual norms based on a variety of professions. Finally, dental hygienists had higher scores on these questionnaires compared with Dutch dentists.

Keywords: burnout; dental hygienist/oral hygienist; dental staff/psychology; job satisfaction; professional/epidemiology; the Netherlands; work engagement.