Anxiety, Depression, Professional Grief Overload, and Quality of Life Among Dentists in Multiprofessional Oncology Residency Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study

In Brazil, the five-year undergraduate dental curriculum provides limited preparation for coping with death, bereavement, and emotionally demanding hospital environments, which may increase vulnerability to psychological burden among dentists working in oncology care. This cross-sectional study assessed anxiety, depression, and professional grief overload among dentists involved in multiprofessional oncology residency programs in Brazil and examined their associations with quality of life and professional characteristics. Fifty-two dentists completed validated measures of anxiety and depression (HADS), professional grief overload (ESPL), and quality of life (SF-36). The sample was predominantly female (69.2%), single (80.8%), and composed of residents (75.0%). Mild anxiety was observed in 28.9% of participants and moderate-to-severe anxiety in 32.7%, while 23.1% presented with mild depressive symptoms and 13.5% presented with moderate-to-severe depression. The mean Professional Grief Overload Scale score was 37.6 (SD = 9.8; IQR, 31.5–44.3). Higher levels of professional grief overload have been associated in previous studies with psychological distress, emotional exhaustion, and reduced quality of life among healthcare professionals. Anxiety and depression were strongly correlated (ρ = 0.71, p < 0.001), and anxiety showed a moderate correlation with professional grief overload (ρ = 0.55, p < 0.001). Higher levels of anxiety, depression, and professional grief overload were associated with poorer quality of life, particularly in vitality, social functioning, and mental health domains. Exploratory cluster analysis identified a subgroup characterized by greater psychological burden and substantially lower quality-of-life scores. These findings suggest that dentists working in oncology residency programs experience considerable psychological burden, highlighting the need for educational and institutional strategies focused on emotional preparedness, grief management, and mental health support within oncology care settings.