Relationship between workload and obesity among dentists in regional health no.8, Northeastern, Thailand

Abstract

Propose: Primary Objective is to find a relation between dentist’s workload and obesity while secondary objective is to find a relation between other independent factors and Obesity.

Design: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with population of all 365 dentists in Regional Health no.8 area. From formulation, the sample size need at least 191 but will send out questionnaire to all individual in population in case of people unwillingness or unqualified for the study. Dental Workload questionnaire will adapted from ADA, Iowa, Utah, and Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Thailand. Other than that standardized questionnaires from WHO GPAQ, WHO Audit, WHO MPOWER, Ramathibodi Hospital Sleep Disorder Center, Mahidol University, and Bureau of Health Promotion. All questionnaires were sent to all MOPH hospital within Health Region No.8. There’s an envelope with stamp inside each questionnaire’s sealbag so that the participant or hospital staff will send back to the author without any fee.

Findings: 209 participants sent the survey back. Relationship between overall working time and working time in office hour and BMI are only little positive correlation while working time outside office hour and number of patient doesn't significantly related to BMI at all. Completing all request appointment and felt overworked leads to higher chance of being obesity and abdominal obesity.

Value: This study could be a supporting evidence if there’s an establishment of policy on protecting and improving Thai dentist’s quality of life.