Dentist-patient Relationship Research Articles

Parental Acceptance and Attitudes Towards Various Behavior Management techniques for Children During Dental Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the parental perceptions and attitudes towards different behavior management techniques commonly employed by dentists. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a self-structured questionnaire. Data was collected from 134 parents accompanying their children (aged 5-10 years) for dental treatment. Descriptive and inferential analyses were carried out using SPSS v21. RESULTS: Among the 134 parents, 41.7% were males and 58.3% were females. The mean age of the children included in the study was 6.67 (SD+ 0.92) of which 44.02% were males and 55.9% were females. In addressing non-cooperation during dental procedures 30.1% of the parents would opt to defer the treatment and 24.4% expressed a preference for the dentist to perform the procedure forcefully. A majority of 86.5% expressed the desire to accompany their child during the dental treatment.The most acceptable technique by the parents was Tell-Show-Do and live modeling followed by positive reinforcement while treatment under general anesthesia was the least acceptable. CONCLUSION: Parents prefer using less aggressive techniques like Tell-Show-Do, modeling and positive reinforcement for the management of their children and the majority want to accompany the child during the treatment. The parents' least accepted technique is treatment under general anesthesia. A thorough understanding of parental desires promotes a healthy dentist-parent relationship. KEYWORDS: Behavior therapy, Parental consent, Dentist-patient relationship, Pediatric Dentistry, Behavior management techniques

To evaluate how a tobacco cessation curriculum affects the professional competency of dental students in delivering effective counseling for tobacco cessation

Objective To assess the impact of tobacco cessation curriculum on the professional competency of dental students in providing effective TCC, ii) To determine the intention of dental students in providing TCC and whether this intention can be explained by TPB. To identify barriers in providing effective TCC Methods An Analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2023 to August 2023. Using a consecutive sampling technique data of 300 was gathered. Students from clinical years of BDS i.e. (third year and fourth year), dental interns, and postgraduate students from all Public and Private dental colleges in Karachi who had tobacco cessation curricula in formal dental teaching. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used as a data collection tool which served the purpose of studying intentions and perceived barriers in tobacco cessation counseling (TCC) using constructs of the theory of Planned Behaviour Results The majority of participants demonstrated high intention to deliver Tobacco cessation counseling and certainly reported that it is their responsibility as dental health care providers to educate and aid the consumers in quitting. There was no significant difference observed in the intention of dental students and dentists to provide effective TCC. Statistically significant differences were observed between the barriers faced by dental students and dentists in terms that the students were more concerned that they lack skills of TCC in comparison to dentists; they were also hesitant as they thought it might impact the dentist-patient relationship. Conclusion: This study provides useful insights into the importance of TCC in oral healthcare and the willingness of dental professionals to incorporate it into clinical practice. It also highlights the positive impact of the tobacco cessation curriculum in effective TCC.

Exploring Empathy In A Dentist-Patient Relationship. Conclusions From Qualitative Exploratory Research Of Practicing Dentists

Objective: This study explored the factors influencing the development of empathy in a dentist-patient relationship.
 Design: An exploratory qualitative study.
 Place and duration of the study: Khyber Medical University KPK, Pakistan October 2019 to April 2020.was conducted during 2019-2020
 Methodology: This exploratory qualitative study was conducted during 2019-2020. It was conducted on 12 dental surgeons, recruited from four major dental clinical specialties. A purposive sampling technique was used. In-depth interviews were conducted through a semi-structured format. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed, using the thematic analysis framework.
 Results: Three themes were extracted from data. 1) Institutionalization of empathy, indicating a need for incorporating empathy in undergraduate and postgraduate dental curriculum, 2) Barriers in the path of empathetic attitude, including a variety of factors hampering the development of empathy in a dentist-patient relationship and 3) Cultivating a Culture of empathy for better health care provision, indicating a need for changing the collective attitude of all health care professionals, administrative staff, and students. The participants of the study observed that development of empathy in a dentist-patient relationship includes a wide range of factors, ranging from curricular, personal, social, organizational, and cultural. These factors elaborate that empathy is a multidimensional phenomenon with roots deeply entrenched in professional and personal domains.

Managing the sexualization of the dentist-patient relationship by the patient: Innovative teaching through forum-theatre.

Dental students may be exposed to patients' sexual behavior. We developed a theater-forum session whose aims were to identify when the patient's behavior crosses the line, to collectively develop cover strategies, and to present the reporting system. The strategies pointed out by the group were to ask a pair to be present, set limits on personal life, share discomfort to the patient and report the situation to the staff. Theater-forum is a powerful tool for this learning process.

Scale development to measure the patient perception of patient-centered care of dentists in primary care settings of Thailand: a measurement invariance test

BackgroundPatient-centered care is essential for providing quality services thoroughly at the primary care level, but it is unclear and lacks measurement. This study aimed to develop a reliable and valid instrument to measure patient perception of patient-centered care in primary dental care in Thailand and test the measurement invariance between large and small community hospitals.MethodsThe initial set of 45 items for the patient perception of Patient-Centered Care of Dentist Scale (PCCDS-P version) was developed using a mixed-method approach, which included a literature review, a content validity test, cognitive interviews, and a pre-test. A multistage sampling strategy was used to recruit dental patients or their parents or caregivers from community hospitals across Thailand. Validity was examined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis was conducted to compare the responses of patients from large and small community hospitals.ResultsThree hundred thirty-six and One thousand one hundred sixty-seven samples were randomized for EFA and CFA, respectively. The final PCCDS-P version consists of 7 factors with satisfactory reliability and validity and is composed of 42 items: dentist-patient relationship, disease-illness, integrated care, communication, shared information and decision-making, holistic, and empathy and anxiety management. The CFA showed the model fit was consistent with the entire sample. The metric invariance analysis showed that the factor loadings were invariant across patient groups. Overall, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient were satisfactory.ConclusionsThe newly developed PCCDS-P version is composed of seven domains with 42 items with good reliability and validity, and it indicated measurement invariance across patients in large and small community hospitals.

DENTAL CARE IN HIV-positive PATIENTS.

This study was based on the behavior of dentists when dealing with seropositive patients, as well as the oral lesions that affect the oral cavity in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The objective was to help dentists conduct themselves in relation to patients with HIV, how they should treat them and what manifestations are present in the oral cavity of immunosuppressed patients. The method used in this project was a literature review based on scientific articles on the subject, obtained from the databases: Google Scholar, Scielo and PubMed, in addition to the keywords that were: HIV. HIV test. HIV seropositivity. Long-term HIV survivors. Dentist's role. Dentist-patient relationship. The expected result of this literature review was to show and awaken the importance of knowing how to provide care to patients with HIV, as well as adopting protective measures for these people who suffer prejudice daily, as well as the safety of the dental team in terms of biosafety and ethics. In this way, it is concluded that dental professionals are not being properly instructed to care for seropositive patients, both in terms of ethics, biosafety and oral manifestations present in these immunosuppressed patients.

Artificial Intelligence in oral medicine

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various fields, including healthcare, by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and patient care. In the field of oral medicine, AI has emerged as a powerful tool with the potential to transform dental practice and improve patient outcomes. This study aims to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of dentists towards the integration of AI in oral medicine. A sample size of 200 dentists was recruited for this study. A structured questionnaire was developed to gather data on their knowledge, experience, and opinions regarding AI in oral medicine. The questionnaire included items related to dentists' familiarity with AI technologies, perceived benefits and challenges of AI integration, and their willingness to adopt AI in their practice. Analysis of the data revealed that the majority of dentists had a basic understanding of AI and its applications in oral medicine. They recognized the potential of AI to improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline treatment planning, and enhance patient communication. However, concerns were raised regarding the reliability of AI algorithms, data security and privacy, and the potential impact on the dentist-patient relationship. The study findings indicate a generally positive attitude towards the integration of AI in oral medicine among the surveyed dentists.

A scoping review to explore patient trust in dentistry: the definition, assessment and dental professionals' perception.

Background A trusting dentist-patient relationship is pivotal in providing person-centred care. This scoping review aims to identify how trust is defined, measured and perceived by dental professionals.Methods The Joanna Briggs Institute framework was adopted. A search strategy was developed using MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms and key words. Medline/PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched. Data were synthesised using thematic analysis.Findings In total, 16 studies were included that frequently used quantitative research methodology. Only four studies provided definition of trust. Many studies employed either Dental Trust Scale or Dental Beliefs Survey to measure dentist-patient trust, although others developed their own items. Limited research suggested that the dental professionals appreciated communication was paramount to building a trusting relationship with patients.Conclusion No consensus was found on the definition of trust, nor on a preferred assessment tool to measure dentist-patient trust. The limited evidence intimated that dental professionals acknowledged the importance of effective communication in building a trusting alliance with patients. The scarcity of relevant research highlights the need for more robust investigations of trust in dental care.

Barriers to prevention in oral health care for english NHS dental patients: a qualitative study of views from key stakeholders

BackgroundDespite significant progress in the control of oral diseases since the discovery of fluoride in the 1940s, dental caries and periodontal diseases continue to affect a significant proportion of the population, particularly socially disadvantaged and lower socioeconomic groups. The National Health Service in England provides preventive advice and treatments as part of an oral health assessment, and evidence-based guidance recommends the use of fissure sealants and topical fluorides in addition to dietary and oral hygiene advice. Although oral health promotion and education have become expected parts of dental care, the need for restorative treatments remains relatively high. We aimed to explore how barriers to preventive advice and treatment for NHS patients may be hindering the provision of prevention in oral health to patients from the perspectives of multiple key stakeholders.MethodsSemi-structured interviews and focus groups were undertaken between March 2016-February 2017 with four groups of stakeholders: dentists, insurers, policy makers and patient participants. The interviews were analysed using deductive, reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsThirty-two stakeholders participated: 6 dentists, 5 insurers, 10 policy makers, and 11 patient participants. Four themes were developed: Perspectives on the clarity of oral health messaging and patient’s knowledge, The variability of prioritising prevention, Influences of the dentist-patient relationship on effective communication and Motivation to enact positive oral health behaviours.ConclusionsThe findings from this research indicate that patients’ knowledge of and priority placed on prevention is variable. Participants believed that more targeted education could be valuable in enhancing these. A patient’s relationship with their dentist could also influence their level of knowledge through the information shared with them, their receptivity to the preventive messages and the value they place on it. However, even with knowledge, prioritising prevention and a good patient-dentist relationship, without motivation to engage in preventive behaviour the impact of these is reduced. Our findings are discussed in relation to the COM-B model of behaviour change.

DENTAL SERVICES – TO FEAR OR NOT TO FEAR? THE EFFECT OF MUSIC ON PAIN PERCEPTIONS

In the tertiary sector of economy, consumers have been noticed to pay great attention to dental care services as they make use of such services quite frequently and are emotionally involved in the supply process to a great extent. Among adults, the dentist-patient relationship is often governed by stress, anxiety and fear. In this study, the authors propose exposing the patient to music as a component of ambience for a set amount of time, believing that this external factor may help to alleviate stress and rethink patients' opinions of dentists. To this end, the authors used the EPOCx electroencephalogram (EEG) and conducted the pilot experimental study, where the individuals in the sample were divided into four groups: a control group, on which no intervention was exerted (G1) and three experimental groups. Subjects in G2 were exposed to music without prior notice, study participants in G3 knew the experimental protocol, and those in G4 selected their own music. Using electroencephalogram signals, the authors monitored the reactions of patients in the experimental groups, which were then compared with the signals obtained for individuals in the G1 group. The results showed significant variations for subjects exposed to music, which were most evident in the right parietal cortex, which is responsible, among other things, for the emergence of positive emotions.

Communication in dentistry: application of Neuro-Linguistic Programming to reduce patients’ anxiety

ABSTRACT Communication is an integral part of the relationship between dentist and patient. An anxious patient may feel more understood by the dentist when the communication between them is empathetic. However, dental education seems to under-emphasise the importance of communication between dentists and patients. We suggest an interpersonal aspect of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) as one approach to educate dental students to enhance communication skills. This commentary discusses key communication concepts and skills based on NLP, such as rapport and pacing. These concepts and skills can improve dental practice by improving the dentist-patient relationship. Dental educators can introduce these NLP-based concepts and skills about communication to help students better prepare for real-world dentistry practice.

Empathy of dental students and educators in French hospitals: A cross-sectional study.

Empathy is a key factor in the dentist-patient relationship. The aim of this study was to determine empathy in dental students and educators in French hospital dental services. A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students and educators who practiced in 10 hospital dental services affiliated with the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Lorraine in France. A questionnaire was self-administered online using the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE). The study included 209 participants comprising 50 students in fourth year, 66 students in fifth year, 48 students in sixth year, and 45 educators. Participants were 63.6% females, aged 27 ± 8 years. The mean empathy score was 109.40 ± 11.65. The sub-scores of the three dimensions were 57.02 ± 6.64 for Perspective Taking, 42.56 ± 6.22 for Compassionate Care, and 9.78 ± 2.61 for Walking in the Patient's Shoes. Females showed significant higher empathy scores than males (111.36 vs. 105.84). The empathy score was correlated with age and insignificantly decreased during clinical training (from 110.06 in fourth year to 106.63 in sixth year). French dental students and educators showed high levels of empathy.

Public Trust in Dentists among Arabic Populations.

To investigate public trust in dentists, fear of dentists, factors related to trust, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the trust in dentists. We used an Arabic online anonymous survey to collect data from a random population of 838 adults to investigate public trust in dentists, the factors they perceive to affect trust, their perception of key factors in the dentist-patient relationship, fear of dentists, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of their trust in the dentists. Eight hundred thirty-eight subjects with a mean age of 28.5 responded to the survey (595 (71%) females, 235 (28%) males, and 8 (1%) did not specify their gender). More than half trust their dentist. The COVID-19 pandemic did not decrease trust in dentists according to 62.2%. There were significant gender differences in reporting fear of dentists (p < 0.001) and in the perception of factors affecting trust (p=0.028). Honesty was chosen by 583 (69.6%), competence by 549 (65.5), and dentist's reputation by 443 (52.9%). The findings of this study show that the majority of the public trust dentists, more females reported fear of dentists, and the majority perceived honesty, competence, and reputation as key factors affecting trust in the dentist-patient relationship. The majority reported that the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a negative impact on their trust in dentists.

Ethical principles and posting on social media platforms

Ethical principles and posting on social media platforms

The dentist-patient relationship and oral health-related quality of life among older adults: A cohort study.

To assess the association between aspects of the dentist-patient relationship at age 65 and Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP) at ages 65 and 70 and to examine whether dental avoidance behaviours play a role in explaining that association. Information about the quality of the dentist-patient relationship is important for dental care provision and healthy ageing. Secondary data analysis of a cohort study of Norwegians born in 1942. The participation rate in 2007 (age 65) and 2012 (age 70) was, respectively, 58.0% (n=4211) and 54.5% (n=3733). A total of 70.0% (n=2947) of the baseline participants responded in 2012. Dentist-patient relationship aspects were assessed in terms of communication with the dentist, satisfaction with dental care, unpleasant experiences and changes of dentist. Generalised Estimating Equations (GEEs) were used to account for repeated measurements. Prevalence of oral impacts (OIDP) was 29.0% in 2007 and 28.4% in 2012. Participants who received communication on oral hygiene during dental visits had a higher likelihood, whereas participants who reported satisfaction with dental care, no unpleasant experience and did not change dentist had a lower likelihood of reporting oral impacts over these 5 years. Corresponding odds ratios were: 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.5), 0.4 (95% CI 0.3-0.5), 0.6 (95% CI 0.5-0.7) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-0.6). Associations between dentist-patient relationship aspects and OIDP remained unchanged after adjustment for avoidance behaviours. Training dentists in relationship skills might improve social interaction with patients and the oral health-related quality of life of older people in Norway.

What are the ethical considerations of using video social media platforms such as TikTok in your dental practice?

What are the ethical considerations of using video social media platforms such as TikTok in your dental practice?

Audio-visual storytelling for reducing dental anxiety in Iranian children: a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of the audio-visual storytelling method and the "tell-show-do" (TSD) technique on reducing children's dental anxiety. A controlled clinical trial study was performed with two experimental groups and a control group. Forty-five 6-to-9years old children were randomly divided into the groups. Venham Picture Test and Facial Image scale were used as measurement tools. Repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc test were used to evaluate the interventions. The results of the post hoc test showed that there was a significant difference between the mean scores of the control group and storytelling group according to both anxiety scales (p = 0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of the control group and TSD group according to both anxiety scales (p = 0.01). The audio-visual storytelling appears an effective, applicable method for reducing children's dental anxiety. However, it is significant to select an appropriate story and also to consider the dentist-patient relationship.

Management of Geriatric Patients in Clinical Settings Comorbid with Psychiatric Disorders: A KAP Study

Background and Objectives: Comorbidity with psychiatric disorders raises health risks and has an impact on the condition, treatment and prognosis of elderly patients, necessitating holistic dental care for this age group. Thus, present study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude, practice and awareness of psychiatric disorders and their relation to oral health amongst dental undergraduates, interns, postgraduate students and faculties treating geriatric patients.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: A cross -sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 300 dental students and faculties from various departments. The questionnaire was developed and subsequent face validation was obtained from dental students followed by content validation from a medical expert and four dental experts which was then utilized to assess knowledge, attitude and practice amongst dental health practitioners and students for managing geriatric patients comorbid with psychiatric disorders.&#x0D; Results: Of the total study participants, majority of faculties with clinical practice (86.0%]. had more knowledge regarding systemic disorders which can lead to psychiatric diseases in geriatric patients.66% of BDS interns and 40% of faculties evaluate the mental status of the geriatrics before commencing dental treatment. 64.9% of faculties and 56.4% interns believed in shared decision making for dentist patient relationship whereas remaining participants believed in dentist-based decision making which was found to be statistically significant (&lt;0.001).&#x0D; Conclusion: More evidence and research in this field is increasingly important and required to improve evidence-based clinical practice and therapy for geriatric patients.

“How obsessive are dentists?”––A personality styles & disorder inventory based prospective, controlled study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the typical personality traits of dentists and to discuss critically their influence on the necessary characteristics for a good dentist-patient relationship. MethodsTwo groups were invited via e-mail to participate the study in 2015–2020. One group consisted of German dentists (DENT N = 580). The other group was formed by German speaking psychotherapists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH N = 1.027). The Personality Styles and Disorder Inventory was used in its short form (PSDI-S) via online survey. The normalization sample (NORM N = 3.392) of the PSDI-S was used to compare the results with a normative sample. ResultsDentists differed in 10 out of 14 personality styles from the normalization sample (NORM), and in 13 out of 14 personality styles compared with the psychotherapists (DACH). Female dentists differed in 7 out of 14 personality styles to their male colleagues. ConclusionsThe most significant differences in personality styles were willful (PN), spontaneous (BL), reserved (SZ), ambitious (NA), optimistic (RH) and conscientious (ZW), which seem to be necessary for a good dentist-patient relationship and dental procedures. The expression of personality styles is most likely to influence the choice, delivery and cost as well as patient perception of treatment. Clinical significanceDentist's personality has an important impact on the interpersonal, which influences the dentist-patient relationship and its therapeutic outcome.

Power in Dentistry: A Foucauldian Shift in South Korea.

The established method of understanding power in dentistry is based on the early Foucauldian discourse that dentistry enforces oral health discipline to the people on behalf of state power. This exhibits the hierarchy between dentists and patients, which clearly appears in clinical dentistry and effectively explains the responsibility of oral care assigned to patients. However, there presents no way to becoming free from the framework in the discourse as a resistance. Beyond the political aspect of the medico-sociological framework, this paper seeks a different way to understand power in dentistry through 'care of the self', a late Foucauldian concept. First, based on the current discussion of the dentist-patient relationship (DPR), the paper examines two trends of clinical dental treatments in South Korea. The high prevalence of dental implant and orthognathic surgery indicates that traditional prejudices including ableism and pursuit of Western beauty still remain in South Korea albeit with the society overcoming paternalism in DPRs. These dental phenomena, however, contain excesses that cannot be explained only by traditional prejudice, and this paper attempts to interpret them as the pursuit of care of the self that appears in the dentist's professionalism and the patient's self-determination. In dentistry, care of the self can be introduced in the form of empowerment, which is implemented through the improvement of oral health literacy and shared decision-making. This paper argues that this interpretation helps surmount the traditional dyadic model of the DPR and revise the understanding of power in dentistry.