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Dental student perceptions of the elderly: measuring negative perceptions with projective tests
M A Pyle1, T R Jasinevicius, R Sheehan
1Department of Oral Diagnosis & Radiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, Cleveland, OH 44106-4905, USA.
Summary
Dental students showed significant negativity towards older patients and younger patients with few teeth. Patient age did not affect treatment decisions, but negativity suggests potential biases in dental care perceptions.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education
- Geriatric Dentistry
- Psychology in Dentistry
Background:
- Stereotypic perceptions of older adults can impact healthcare provider relationships.
- Understanding these perceptions is crucial for equitable patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how patient age and dentate status influence dental students' treatment decisions and patient perceptions.
- To identify potential biases in dental student attitudes.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 70 first- and third-year dental students.
- Students wrote projective stories based on patient descriptions (age and dentate status variations).
- Stories were analyzed for negativity and stereotypic themes.
Main Results:
- Patient age did not significantly alter prescribed dental care.
- High negativity levels were observed towards older patients (45-47%) and younger patients with few teeth (57.6%).
- Lower negativity (27%) towards young patients with full dentition suggests possible gender bias.
Conclusions:
- Dental student perceptions are influenced by patient age and dentition, but not treatment decisions.
- Significant negative perceptions exist towards older patients and those with poor oral health.
- Potential gender bias among dental students warrants further investigation.