Summary of: Dental practitioners and ill health retirement: A qualitative investigation into the causes and effects

Abstract

Introduction: Data published in 1999 from the Government Actuary on the National Health Service Pension Scheme (1989-1994) have indicated that the frequency of ill health premature retirement (IHR) was four times more prevalent among dentists at age 42 years compared with doctors. Objective: The aim of this project was to determine the factors that contributed to IHR in dental practitioners, and the effects of IHR on their lives. Method: Semi-structured interviews were carried out during 2007. A topic list was developed, piloted and used to guide the interviewer. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit the respondents from an insurance company database. A framework approach to data analysis was utilised. Results: Twenty-three respondents were interviewed, 19 male and 4 female, aged between 39-59 years. Depression, stress and anxiety were reported by respondents to be major causes of their retirement, followed by musculoskeletal disease and premature disability caused by trauma. This is illustrated by the following: "…just went straight into general practice but with some regrets. Practice was so depressing" (GDS/NHS); "I withdraw, I don’t engage…I found it more and more difficult and one morning…I collapsed in tears at the practice" (GDS/NHS). Dentists reported both negative and positive comments in relation to support received from their health insurance company. Conclusions: The main causes of IHR were depression, musculoskeletal disease and specifi c skin conditions. Respondents expressed concern regarding the level of support available to dentists in distress. Respondents to this study found that continuing to work had a positive impact on their health. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.