Professionalism practiced by dental students - Patient's perspective: A questionnaire-based survey

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Professionalism in Dentistry
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Professionalism is a cornerstone of dental education.
• Evaluating patient perceptions of dental student professionalism is crucial for curriculum development.
• Understanding patient expectations informs training in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient perspectives on professionalism exhibited by dental students.
• To identify key attributes patients associate with dental student professionalism.
• To explore the correlation between patient demographics and their views on professionalism.

Main Methods:

• A survey questionnaire was administered to patients at a university hospital dental outpatient department.
• Data were collected from 152 adult patients between June 2020 and April 2021.
• Statistical analyses included frequency analysis and Chi-square tests.

Main Results:

• A high percentage of patients (84.2%) desired name badges and (57.9%) surgical scrubs.
• Patients perceived dental students' behavior and communication skills positively.
• Altruistic behavior and communication skills were identified as most crucial for the patient-dentist relationship.

Conclusions:

• Patient-reported professionalism in dental students is linked to attire and interpersonal skills.
• Effective patient-centered care relies on shared ideals of altruism and communication.
• Dental education should emphasize these dynamic aspects of professionalism.