Exploring reasons why South African dental therapists are leaving their profession: A theory-informed qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dental therapy is a category of mid-level oral health professional that was introduced to address inequities in oral health service provision in South Africa within a constrained human resource for health context. However, low numbers of registered dental therapists and attrition threaten this strategy.

Aim

This study explored reasons for this attrition, building on the Hertzberg Two-Factor Theory.

Methods

Through a qualitative exploratory study design, in-depth interviews were conducted with former dental therapists to explore their reasons for leaving the profession. They were recruited using snowball sampling. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded in NVIVO12. A team of researchers applied thematic analysis to agree on themes

SUBMITTER: Sodo PP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10602277 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature