Informatics Publishing Limited

S. Shreelakshmi ¹, D. Srisakthi Doraikannan ², I. Meignana Arumugham Indiran ³, Pradeep Kumar Rathinavelu ²

Affiliations
1 Post Graduate Student, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences,, Chennai, IN
2 Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IN
3 Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IN

Abstract

Introduction: Dentistry, being one of the healing professions, has an obligation to society that its members will stick on to high ethical standards of conduct. In India, studies done to assess whether the dental practitioners adhere to ethics in their line of work are very meager.

The consent is integral as it enables in mutual communication to establish a good dentist-patient rapport that enables maintenance of dental patient record which is legal evidence that documents professional care provided to the patient. Informed consent is an essential tool of standard ethical dental practice.

Materials and Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among private dental practitioners in Chennai City. A self- administered structured questionnaire consisting of 21 items was used to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding informed consent. The response format was based on a 2-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics using frequency and percentage, inferential statistics using Pearson’s Chisquare test to check the level of significance and association between variables, Pearson’s correlation were utilized for statistical analysis.

Results: The mean scores for knowledge and attitude were 8.83 ± 1.635 and 3.28 ± 0.734 respectively. Analysis revealed that qualification and years of experience was statistically significant among both dependent variables (p ≤ 0.05). Statistically significant differences were found in the mean knowledge and practice scores among graduate dentists and specialists.

Conclusion: A significant association between the knowledge and practice scores was observed, implying that with an increase in knowledge, there was also an increase in the practices of ethics among study population.

Keywords

Awareness, Perception, Dental Ethics, Informed Consent, Registered Dentists.

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S. Shreelakshmi ¹, I. Meignana Arumugham Indiran ², Pradeep Kumar Rathinavelu ³, D. Srisakthi Doraikannan ³

Affiliations
1 Post Graduate Student, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IN
2 Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IN
3 Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IN

Abstract

Introduction: Oral health is an integral part of general health. Despite the fact most of the oral diseases are preventable; least priority is given for oral care among public. As knowledge is considered to be an essential prerequisite for related behavior and educational intervention is easy in administration logical at community level for promotion, this study was conducted to evaluate the impact of oral health education.

Materials and Method: The used questionnaire in this cross-sectional survey consisted of 12 items to obtain data through telephonic interview. The study was conducted among 100 people who had received oral health education counseling during their dental visit. They were selected from the records management system in a private dental institution in Chennai city. Descriptive statistics using frequency and percentage and inferential statistics using Pearson’s Chi-square test to check the level of significance and association between variables were utilized for statistical analysis.

Results: The mean age was found to be 35.6 ± 12.303. Most of them were aged 21-40 years perceived the intervention to have a moderate impact developed greater expected behavior as a result of counseling. Males were higher in proportion than females. However, the practice of oral hygiene post intervention was greater among women. Higher proportions in different age groups perceived moderate impact. No matter whatever was the educational status of the individuals, oral health education created desirable behavior for healthy oral cavity.

Conclusion: Effective educational interventions with motivation contribute to positive behavior change.

Keywords

Effectiveness, Oral Health Education, Oral Health Promotion, Program, Impact.

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