No abstract

The aim of this study was to document dentists' self-perceived mental health complaints and job satisfaction, and to assess any correlations between the two. A postal questionnaire survey was mailed to all (N=2,449) licensed dentists registered with the Lithuanian Dental Association. The questionnaire investigated dentists' mental health and job satisfaction during the previous year (overall response rate: 68.2%). The majority of respondents (80.7%) reported being satisfied with their job. Self-perceived lack of self-esteem (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.43-0.82), loneliness (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53-0.98), and especially depression (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.35-0.77) had a high negative impact on dentists' job satisfaction. Nervousness (89.2%) and burnout (83.6%) were the most prevalent mental complaints and they also tended to be the most chronic of all reported mental disorders. Increasing age significantly reduced the possibility of nervousness or depression and increased the possibility of being satisfied with dental practice. Increasing working hours increased the risk of burnout, anxiety and loneliness. Overall, this study suggests that the majority of Lithuanian dentists are satisfied with their job and also enjoy their professional lives. However, a considerable proportion still reported impairment of mental health which influenced their levels of job satisfaction.

The increase in mortality from cardiovascular diseases observed at the weekend in Lithuania is similar to that observed in Moscow and other populations. The relationship with alcohol consumption is supported by the available physiological evidence. We propose that bingeing can be solely responsible for, or acts as a 'catalyst' for, pathophysiological events by increasing blood pressure, cardiac rhythm and coagulability. The increased IHD mortality observed throughout the weekend and on Monday in Lithuania may reflect the influence of alcohol consumption patterns in a population already subject to high psychosocial stress.

Background: In Lithuania, suicides are a grave public health problem, requiring more extensive investigation. The aim of the study was to assess the seasonal variations of suicides in Lithuania throughout the years 1993-2002, describing patterns by gender, age and method of suicide.

Objective. To present changes in life expectancy of males and females by the level of educational achievement and describe different aspects of inequalities in life expectancy over the decade of socioeconomic transition in Lithuania. Material and methods. This analysis is based on routine mortality statistics and census data for 1989 and 2001 for the entire country. The study included the population more than 25 years of age. Results. Increasing inequalities in life expectancy by education have occurred due to increasing life expectancy amongst persons with higher educational achievements, and conversely, a declining life expectancy in groups with low levels of education. Cardiovascular diseases were responsible for the greatest number of years lost in life expectancy by all educational categories both in males and females. The numbers of years lost due to cardiovascular diseases decreased in majority of educational categories, particularly in lower secondary educational group. The increase in the years of life expectancy lost was observed due to external causes of death, the higher education being associated with the lower numbers of years lost, especially in females. The greatest impact on the difference in life expectancy between males with university and primary education was caused by external causes both in 1989 and 2001, while the major contribution to the educational differences in life expectancy of females was made by cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions. Favorable forecast of declining health inequalities by education in Lithuania can hardly be expected in the nearest future. Collective efforts and constructive actions should address the health problems of the least privileged groups in terms of education, as well as promotional efforts directed at young people to complete their education and guarantee of equal opportunities for education.