Stress levels amongst Turkish dental students, general dentists and paediatric dentists during performing paediatric dentistry: a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate stress levels and stressors amongst dental students, general dentists and paediatric dentists treating paediatric patients. Methods This study was conducted on 664 dentistry students, general dentists and paediatric dentists in Turkey. Data were collected through an online questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics and the Pedodontic Practice Stress Scale (PPSS). Stressors when treating paediatric patients were compared between the groups. The scores obtained from the questionnaire were analysed. Compliance with normal distribution was analysed according to Kurtosis-Skewness values. One-way analysis was used to compare the scale scores (p < 0.050). Results Of the participants, 74.54% were female and 25.46% were male. The females showed a significantly higher level of stress, compared to the males (p = 0.001).When compared according to the level of education, the mean total stress scores did not differ (p = 0.211), but the mean complication score was found to be statistically significantly higher in paediatric dentists (p = 0.001). In addition, the lowest mean stress score was found in dental students. Statistically significant differences were found in all sections of the PPSS scale in terms of the ability to manage a paediatric patient as an adult patient and the importance of knowing child psychology theories. Conclusion Factors, such as the educational status, the number of patients treated, the behaviour of the patient's relatives and the potential to communicate with them, cause variable stress in dental students and general and specialist dentists working with children.