Effect of Summer Temperature on the Work Efficiency of Dentists

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Environment is closely related to human health. While the effects of temperature on comfort are broadly recognized, the effects on worker productivity have received much less attention. Thus this research was planned to investigate the effects of heat stress on job satisfaction, job performance, occupational stress among dentists.
 MATERIALS AND METHOD: This research was designed to be cross-sectional in nature where a convenience sampling of 70 interns, 88 post-graduate students and 49 faculty members of IDS Bareilly were selected. Questionnaires were self-administered and contained twelve points for job satisfaction (Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire), thirteen points for occupational stress and twelve for job performance
 RESULTS: The subjects were moderately satisfied with their jobs, were less stressed and had a moderate job performance. After descriptive tests, the Chi-squared test, Pearson and Spearman Correlation Coefficient was applied to test statistical significance and p value was set to be significant at p<0.5.
 DISCUSSION: The present study showed that most of the dentists (60.9%) had a high sense of heat and such results may be because of the current hospital framework which includes lack of air conditioners, continuous patient workload in hospital, high sense of heat among the dentists working in top floors etc.
 CONCLUSION: If effective prevention measures are taken in the hospitals, dentists may perform more efficiently and also the increase the job satisfaction.