Awareness and Perception towards Dental Ethics and Ethical Dilemmas among Dental Professionals - A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Dentists are one among the medical professionals who often encounter complex ethical issues. Playing the role of a health professional, business enterpriser and academician they often run into specific and conflicting ethical demands in practice and research. This cross-sectional study was conducted among dental professionals attached to educational institutions and private practitioners. A total of 95 participants, including private practitioners, faculty members, and post-graduate students, were recruited. A pre-validated, questionnaire containing questions related to awareness and perception in dental ethics was administered. Descriptive statistics was done to report the level of awareness and perception of dental professionals. About 65% of post-graduate professionals had awareness in clinical ethics when compared to undergraduate professionals who had 58% awareness. However, 75% of undergraduate professionals had awareness in research ethics compared to post-graduate professionals with 70% awareness. There was no difference in the perception level among graduate and post-graduate professionals. The awareness of dental ethics varied among dental professionals. There is a need to introduce specific continuing dental educational (CDE) programs to promote knowledge on dental ethics and dental jurisprudence to save dentist and their patients from encountering uneventful situations.