European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY OF INDIAN DENTISTS – A MIXED METHODS APPROACH IN A CITY OF INDIA

*Gaurav R. Naik, Himanshu Thukral, Suman Yadav, Aparna Ray, Mallika Sethi, Radhika Lamba, Geetanjali Arora

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Dentists experience stressful situations on a daily basis. Since, the profession requires close personal interaction with the patients, the ethical and moral standards leave no room for error in judgment by the professional. The stressful lifestyle has its ill-effects which manifests in various physical and psychological ways. Aim: The study aims at providing a reflection on the Alcohol dependency of Dentists In an urban city of India. Methods: This is cross – sectional mixed methods study constituting of both quantitative and qualitative approach. A sample size of 50 was taken for quantitative survey and five in-depth interviews were conducted for qualitative findings. Conclusion: From the results, 60% participants admitted consuming alcohol on a daily basis, 20% of which were self-identified alcoholics. From a the qualitative interviews, major reasons identified for alcohol dependency were mental stress, physical strain, emotional trauma, anxiety, poor family life and previous substance and alcohol addiction.

Keywords: Alcohol consumption, Dentists, Substance abuse, Alcoholism, Stress, Clinical practice.