An exploration into the factors influencing job satisfaction among dental technologists in Lagos, Nigeria

There has been a growing concern within the Nigerian dental technology industry regarding job satisfaction particularly among dental technologists working in the public health sector. There are no previous studies of job satisfaction of dental technologists in Nigeria. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore the factors influencing job satisfaction among dental technologists working in public hospitals and dental centres in Lagos state, South-West Nigeria. The study was carried out using mainly a qualitative research approach undertaken through a phenomenological research design by learning from the experiences of study participants, otherwise known as interpretivist paradigm. Participants were purposefully selected from both federal (six) and state (12) government establishments within Lagos state, Nigeria. Data was generated by means of semistructured interviews with 18 (males n=10, females n=8) dental technologists. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analysed and interpreted using thematic content analysis aided by the qualitative research software, Nvivo 11 Pro (QSR International Pty Ltd, 2015). The results indicate 11 key factors that influenced job satisfaction, including: low employment entry-level, low remuneration, career limiting bar (limited career progression), limited educational advancement. Other factors included: dearth of specialty training, limited funding and opportunity for CPD, strained working relationship between dentists and technologists, low professional status, inadequate professional/work autonomy, lack of equipment and dental supplies and poor working conditions amongst other factors. The majority of the participants expressed satisfaction and fulfilment in their job (career) as oral health workers, but their job satisfaction was undermined by the challenges mentioned above. In the course of the project, valuable data emerged which contributes to the literature concerning those factors that undermine job satisfaction amongst the dental technology professionals in the African context, particularly in Nigerian. Further large scale studies in this field are recommended. This study highlights a number of real and potential problems in relation to job satisfaction in the field of dental technology in Nigeria among those employed in the public health sector. It is apparent that change within the structure of education and professional qualification, although largely welcomed, and if the context in which employees work is improved, this will encourage dental technologists to stay in their jobs, and will improve job satisfaction and and improve productivity and job satisfaction and so reduce the likelihood of job turnover.