The Dangers of Not Having Enough Time
Stress is notoriously common in the oral health field. Dentistry in particular is noted as being one of the most stressful careers among medical professionals. The negative effects of stress on a person’s health is well-documented, including poor mental health and a potentially shortened life span. Recently, research published in the Journal of Dentistry looked at how stress, specifically time-pressure stressors, affect dentists’ diagnostic performance. Researchers examined 40 dentists who were randomized and asked to provide a report on two sets of radiographs — six bitewings in each set. The participants were put under two conditions on a crossover basis: time pressure versus no time pressure. After each experiment, participants rated their stress using a 100-millimeter visual analogue scale (VAS). Unsurprisingly, the VAS scores for stress were much higher in the time-pressure condition than the no-time-pressure condition (mean: 55.78 versus 10.73, p<0.0001). As expected, time pressure acted as a source of stress. Researchers noted that the participants’ diagnostic performance was affected by this stress. When under time pressure, the dentists’ sensitivitywas significantly lower (median: 0.50 versus 0.80, p<0.0001). In order to calculate sensitivity and specificity, the participant’s diagnostic reports were compared to the radiographic report of an experienced consultant.
The researchers concluded, “Time pressure negatively impacts one aspect of dentists’ diagnostic performance, namely sensitivity (increased diagnostic errors and omissions of pathology), which can potentially affect patient safety and the quality of care delivered.” Another study, published in the South African Dental Journal in 2015, also looked at stress in the dental environment, placing a specific emphasis on how to manage stress. In this study, researched noted that running behind schedule and heavy workloads were key stressors in dentistry. They found that the most effective preventative measures for minimizing this stress is to “work sensible hours and make time each day for a leisurely break.” They also advised dentists to “take time offwhenever the pressures of practice start to build.” It can be difficult to justify stepping back from your work, especiallywhen you are running a business on top of providing medical care to your patients. However, diagnostic errors can put patient safety at risk. So, it is apparent dentists, orthodontists, and all physicians in the medical field must be aware of their own time-pressure stressors and address them appropriately — for their own health and the health of their patients.
Occupational Hazard
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Roasted Radishes With Radish Greens
DIRECTIONS
Radishes start showing up in droves during the spring and summer months, but all too often we only eat the bulbs raw on salads and discard the greens. This recipes bucks both of those trends, with the radishes being roasted alongside their green tops.
1. Heat oven to 500 F. While heating, trim radishes and wash greens. Pat both dry using a paper towel. 2. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat oil over high heat until shimmering. Season radishes with salt and pepper, add to skillet, and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer entire skillet to oven rack and roast for 15 minutes. 3. Once removed from oven, return skillet to stove. Over medium heat, stir in butter and add greens. Cook until they are wilted, about 2 minutes. 4. Finish with lemon juice and additional salt if desired. Serve immediately.
INGREDIENTS
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3 bunches radishes with greens attached
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
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