Dental Ethics (A KAP Study)
Dr Yusra Tus Saleha Siddiqui*, Dr Khurram Parvez, Dr Rida Askari, Dr Kamran Parvez, Dr Noor ul Ain, Dr Sundas Qazi
Background: Dental health care professionals are trained for ethics as part of Dental school curriculum but it is not usually taught as a subject on whole. Conventional training methods usually don’t prepare clinicians well enough for ethical dilemmas encountered routinely. Proper ethical awareness and attitudes are of paramount significance for better dental care, patient satisfaction and maintaining professional environment of the institution.
Objective: This study aims to analyze ethical awareness, practices and perceptions on the ethical climate of the institution, among Undergraduates and recent dental Graduates.
Methodology: A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 300 students from 3rd year, Final year and House officers (Recent dental graduates) of Dr Ishrat UL Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences Karachi, DOW university of health sciences Karachi-Pakistan. The questionnaire was a 20 item self-administered questionnaire which comprised of closed ended questions only. Returned
questionnaires were then analyzed Using SPSS version 16.0. Sample size of 339 was calculated by applying the formula n = (Z2 * p * q) / d2. Questionnaires were distributed among 300 candidates. Descriptive analysis was carried out for all collected data and Chi squared test was applied
Results: The response rate in this study was 95% as 285 out of 300 questionnaires were returned for analysis. The study population was female dominant (n=179) (62.8%). The results revealed that there was an overall lack of knowledge regarding ethics in the sample, and that further incentives needed to be made to improve the situation. In contrast, Attitudes of the candidates were found to be positive, indicating overall
goodwill and loyalty of the students to their profession which is a significant finding and can be used as base to conclude that any changes made will be followed wholeheartedly by the population. Moreover there was a good approach observed regarding practices related to dental care ethics.
Conclusion: There needs to be more investment made in favor of our Dental students regarding teaching of Dental Ethics in institutions, since students have demonstrated a good attitude towards their profession and ethical dentistry.
