A qualitative investigation of specialist orthodontists in New Zealand: Part 2. Orthodontists%26apos; working lives and work-life balance

作者：Soma Kieran J; Thomson W Murray^*; Morgaine Kate C; Harding Winifred J

来源：Australian Orthodontic Journal, 2012, 28(2): 170-180.

Background: Orthodontics is the most widely practised form of specialist dentistry in New Zealand. To date, no known qualitative research has been published examining the work-life balance of practitioners. The aim of this study was to investigate the working lives and work-life balance of NZ orthodontists in order to generate an understanding of the reality of orthodontic specialist practice and its effects on orthodontists%26apos; professional and personal lives. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted involving 19 practising orthodontists (four females, 15 males; mean age 50 years) from throughout New Zealand and selected for maximum variation in the sample. Transcribed interviews were analysed for themes using an applied grounded theory approach. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: A core category of %26apos;practising orthodontist%26apos; was derived, and related themes were grouped under the sub-categories of: (a) NZ orthodontic specialist practice; (b) NZ specialist orthodontists; and (c) Work-life balance. The present paper reports on the final sub-category. Themes emerging from the work-life sub-category were further divided into two sub-themes of %26apos;work%26apos; and %26apos;life%26apos;. Themes in the %26apos;work%26apos; sub-group included time off, injuries and illness, regrets, personality traits, job stress and criticism, establishing a practice, peer support and contact, and success in orthodontics. Themes in the %26apos;life%26apos; sub-group were personal development, family life, life balance and interests outside work, and financial security. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions: This was the first qualitative investigation of the orthodontic profession in New Zealand. The findings provided a valuable insight into the working lives of New Zealand orthodontists and effects on their day-to-day lives. It will be revealing and interesting to observe how the modernisation of orthodontic practice will affect the work-life balance of New Zealand orthodontists in the future. (Aust Orthod J 2012; 28: 170-180)

• 出版日期2012-11