Dentists’ Working Patterns, Motivation and Morale - 2018/19 and 2019/20 Methodology

As discussed in Annexes D and E, several analytical assumptions have been made to investigate motivation in dentists. Many of these assumptions relate to the calculation of the average ‘motivation index’ and its modelling by linear regression. This Annex gives the linear regression results for 2019/20 each country in more detail and tests the assumptions around the use of the multivariate analysis for the ‘motivation index’.

England

Table F1 shows the parameter estimate results listed in table 1.7 (England – 2019/20, Multivariate Analysis) of the main report together with the p-value for each and the adjusted R-squared results. The intercept represents value of the ‘motivation index’ when all explanatory variables are zero.

Table F1: Parameter estimates and p-values for ‘motivation index’ by dental type using multiple linear regression, England, 2019/20

Based on the results it is possible to predict the ‘motivation index’ for both dental types. For example, for Providing-Performers this is given as:

64.092 - (0.183 x WH) - (0.232 x NHS%) + (0.074 x Clinical%) + (0.964 x Leave) - (0.010 x Age)

As described in Annex E, residual plots for Providing-Performers are shown in figure F1.

Figure F1: Providing-Performer dentists, plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’ versus individual independent variables, England, 2019/20

Overall, the residual plots support the first three assumptions of multiple linear regression for average ‘motivation index’ as listed in paragraph E4 in Annex E. Figure F2 shows the normal quantile plot of the residuals for Providing-Performers.

Figure F2: Providing-Performer dentists, normal quantile plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’, England, 2019/20

The result is a linear pattern plot with no significant departure from normality. Similar plots to the above are shown for Associate dentists in figures F3 and F4.

Figure F3: Associate dentists, plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’ versus individual independent variables, England, 2019/20

Figure F4: Associate dentists, normal quantile plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’, England, 2019/20

The residual plots for Associate dentists appear to support the first three assumptions for multiple linear regression of the average ‘motivation index’ as does the almost linear quantile plot.

Different Dental Populations

Table F2 shows the parameter estimate results listed in table 1.8 (Chapter 1) together with the p-value for each and the adjusted R-squared results.

Table F2: Parameter estimates and p-values for ‘motivation index’ by dental type and split populations using multiple linear regression, England, 2019/20

Northern Ireland

Table F3 shows the parameter estimate results listed in table 2.7 (Northern Ireland – 2019/20, Multivariate Analysis) of the main report together with the p-value for each and the adjusted R-squared results. The intercept represents value of the ‘motivation index’ when all explanatory variables are zero.

Table F3: Parameter estimates and p-values for ‘motivation index’ by dental type using multiple linear regression, Northern Ireland, 2019/20

Based on the results it is possible to predict the ‘motivation index’ for dentists. For example, for Principal dentists in Northern Ireland this is given as:

64.148 - (0.067 x WH) - (0.279 x NHS%) - (0.080 x Clinical%) + (2.440 x Leave) + (0.004 x Age)

As described in Annex E, residual plots for Principal dentists in Northern Ireland are shown in figure F5.

Figure F5: Principal dentists, plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’ versus individual independent variables, Northern Ireland, 2019/20

Overall, the residual plots support the first three assumptions of multiple linear regression for average ‘motivation index’ as listed in paragraph E4 in Annex E. In terms of constant variance of the errors, most plots appear well balanced with no clear errors. Figure F6 shows the normal quantile plot of the residuals for Principals.

Figure F6: Principal dentists, normal quantile plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’, Northern Ireland, 2019/20

The result is a linear pattern plot with no significant departure from normality. Similar plots to the above are shown for Associate dentists in Northern Ireland in figures F7 and F8.

Figure F7: Associate dentists, plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’ versus individual independent variables, Northern Ireland, 2019/20

Figure F8: Associate dentists, normal quantile plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’, Northern Ireland, 2019/20

Like the results for Principals in Northern Ireland, the residual plots for Associates appear to support the four assumptions for multiple linear regression of the average ‘motivation index’.

Scotland

Tables F4 shows the parameter estimate results listed in table 3.7 (Scotland 2019/20 – Multivariate Analysis) of the main report together with the p-value for each and the adjusted R-squared results. The intercept represents value of the ‘motivation index’ when all explanatory variables are zero.

Table F4: Parameter estimates and p-values for ‘motivation index’ by dental type using multiple linear regression, Scotland, 2019/20

Based on the results it is possible to predict the ‘motivation index’ for dentists. For example, for Principal dentists in Scotland this is given as:

54.068 - (0.221 x WH) - (0.166 x NHS%) + (0.214 x Clinical%) + (1.227 x Leave) - (0.073 x Age)

As described in Annex E, residual plots for Principal dentists in Scotland are shown in figure F9.

Figure F9: Principal dentists, plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’ versus individual independent variables, Scotland, 2019/20

Overall, the residual plots support the first three assumptions of multiple linear regression for average ‘motivation index’ as listed in paragraph E4 in Annex E. In terms of constant variance of the errors, most plots appear well balanced with no clear errors. Figure E10 shows the normal quantile plot of the residuals for Principals.

Figure F10: Principal dentists, normal quantile plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’, Scotland, 2019/20

The result is a linear pattern plot with no significant departure from normality. Similar plots to the above are shown for Associate dentists in Scotland in figures F11 and F12.

Figure F11: Associate dentists, plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’ versus individual independent variables, Scotland, 2019/20

Figure F12: Associate dentists, normal quantile plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’, Scotland, 2019/20

Like the results for Principals in Scotland, the residual plots for Associates appear to support the four assumptions for multiple linear regression of the average ‘motivation index’.

Wales

Table F5 shows the parameter estimate results listed in table 4.7 (Wales 2019/20 – Multivariate Analysis) of the main report together with the p-value for each and the adjusted R-squared results. The intercept represents value of the ‘motivation index’ when all explanatory variables are zero.

Table F5: Parameter estimates and p-values for ‘motivation index’ by dental type using multiple linear regression, Wales, 2019/20

Based on the results it is possible to predict the ‘motivation index’ for dentists, shown in Chapters 4. For example, for Providing-Performer dentists in Wales this is given as:

20.685 - (0.090 x WH) - (0.165 x NHS%) + (0.121 x Clinical%) + (0.768 x Leave) + (0.538 x Age)

As described in Annex E, residual plots for Providing-Performer dentists in Wales are shown in figure F13.

Figure F13: Providing-Performer dentists, plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’ versus individual independent variables, Wales, 2019/20

Overall, the residual plots support the first three assumptions of multiple linear regression for average ‘motivation index’ as listed in paragraph E4 in Annex E. In terms of constant variance of the errors, most plots appear well balanced with no clear errors. Figure F14 shows the normal quantile plot of the residuals for Providing-Performers.

Figure F14: Providing-Performer dentists, normal quantile plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’, Wales, 2019/20

The result is a linear pattern plot with no significant departure from normality. Similar plots to the above are shown for Associate dentists in Wales in figures F15 and F16.

Figure F15: Associate dentists, plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’ versus individual independent variables, Wales, 2019/20

Figure F16: Associate dentists, normal quantile plot of residuals for average ‘motivation index’, Wales, 2019/20

Like the results for Providing-Performers in Wales, the residual plots for Associates appear to support the four assumptions for multiple linear regression of the average ‘motivation index’.