Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T J Waddington.
In 1987 Cary Cooper published research in the BDJ identifying factors which caused stress in dentists in general practice. It also identified that stress levels in the dental profession as a whole were high. Ten years later, Cary Cooper and Gerry Humphris have returned to this subject to see what new stressors are affecting GDPs today.
This MRI update brings you details of two research projects that are currently underway. The first is a project by Mark Bowen researching into multidisciplinary liaisons and whether it can improve patient care. The second is about the influence of quality management on the success of dental practices by David Ward, a GDP working in Sheffield.
It is widely accepted that the practice support staff, and particularly the dental nurse, have a major role to play in ensuring patient satisfaction and reassurance. Despite this, findings from recent research by Maria Mindak show that dental nurses do not as a rule receive praise, encouragement or feedback from their dentist. As a result, morale is low and staff turnover is high. It is all well and good for dentists to shrug their shoulders and accept that this is just how things are, but as leaders of the dental team is it their responsibility to encourage 'job satisfaction.' And as business people is it in their interest to keep staff in whom they have invested training time and resources. Is it time to rethink your people resources strategy?
We are trained from our earliest years to draw significance from colour and dress. Thus, whilst Cinderella shyly appears in a sparkling white gown, the wicked stepmother flaunts in purple and black; in the same way we come to expect doctors to wear a white coat. But does what doctors and dentists wear really affect patient perceptions of the professionalism of the service and quality of care received? The results of a recent study by Martin Fallowfield, a GDP in Peterborough, will soon uncover the facts. Dentists can then know whether what they wear affects their patients' perceptions of the service they provide.
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On October 20, 1994, the Management Research Initiative was launched. Its aim? To support and publish sound quality research in management specifically related to dental practice so that a body of informed knowledge is available for dentists who want real answers to their questions about what management techniques work in practice. This article brings you up to date on what the MRI has achieved so far.
The Management Research Initiative is successfully attracting interest from the business and management world in a drive to see dentistry recognised as a key area for management research. This issue's MRI update reports on the reception the initiative received at this year's British Academy of Management conference, and how dental practitioners can assess and improve their strategy planning by participating in research to be carried out at the Sheffield Business School.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.