Abstract
BackgroundDecision making when patients ask a dentist for fee reduction is a real ethical dilemma at dental settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate how dental students and tutors think about their position for, or against fee reduction at dental offices.MethodIt was a questionnaire-based survey, which examined the ethical attitudes of students and tutors of an Iranian Dental School. The questionnaire included a vignette about an ethical dilemma at a dental office. Different ethical approaches, i.e. duty-based, virtue-oriented and consequentialist arguments, for or against fee reduction at dental office were suggested. Respondents were asked to rank those ethical options.Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS 16.0.Result121 dental students and thirty-six faculty members (dental specialists) participated in this study. It revealed that a majority of dental students and tutors (68%) are in favor of charging patients less, when facing an imagined request at dental office, using either virtue-oriented (54%) or consequentialist (14%) argument for fee reduction. The difference between rankings of four options was statistically significant, while no statistically significant difference exists neither between male and female respondents, nor students and tutors.ConclusionThis case study provides a basis for fruitful discussions in ethics courses for dental students. Our study suggests that financial issues should be considered as a part of ethical training within the dental student's curriculum.
Highlights
For both patients who need dental care, and for the dentists who treat them, financial issues are among the main questions that arise for both parties
This case study provides a basis for fruitful discussions in ethics courses for dental students
Our study suggests that financial issues should be considered as a part of ethical training within the dental student’s curriculum
Summary
For both patients who need dental care, and for the dentists who treat them, financial issues are among the main questions that arise for both parties. Several surveys have shown that the high cost of treatment, and the financial limitations faced by many patients are the main barriers to accessing dental care [1,2,3]. These barriers inevitably have negative effects on oral health outcomes [4, 5]. The financial discussions that must take place, affect the dentist-patient relationship, and are a routine challenge at dental settings. Decision making when patients ask a dentist for fee reduction is a real ethical dilemma at dental settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate how dental students and tutors think about their position for, or against fee reduction at dental offices
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