IADR Abstract Archives
Exploring Awareness and Attitudes Towards Sustainable Dentistry at Semmelweis University
Objectives: The healthcare sector, including dentistry, has a significant ecological footprint, which need to be measured in order to develop mitigation strategies, for which the attitudes of stakeholders should be examined first.
Objective: Our objective was to map general awareness and attitudes towards sustainability in daily life and at work among a group of dental professionals, and to assess their willingness and readiness to change.
Methods: Method: A voluntary and anonymous, representative online survey with 66 questions was administered to dentists, dental students, dental assistants, dental technicians and students of the listed disciplines, regardless of age and gender, who were working or studying at the departments of Semmelweis University Faculty of Dentistry. Data collection took place between 21 February 2021 and 30 April 2021.
Results: Results: 141 respondents, 80.9% of whom were dentists or dental students, filled the questionnaire. 81.6% of them acquired their knowledge of sustainability from online media content. More than 80% of them consider climate change an important or high priority global problem. In both workplace and everyday sustainability, selective waste collection, energy conservation and efficiency were the most common, while reducing meat consumption, environmental activism and talking about sustainability were the least common aspects. Respondents identified selective waste collection, reducing paper use and upgrading building energetics as the most necessary improvements in workplace sustainability. Switching from single-use towards reusable dental equipment in clinical care is moderately advocated by the respondents.
Conclusions: Conclusions: The overall attitudes of the study sample towards sustainability are good. The responses also highlighted some gaps in this area and can help planning the necessary further steps.
The combination of awareness and strong beliefs can create the motivation for conscious bottom-up actions, which is the key for an institutional shift towards sustainable dental care.
Our Sustainable Dentistry Working Group has been established to catalyse these transformations.
Objective: Our objective was to map general awareness and attitudes towards sustainability in daily life and at work among a group of dental professionals, and to assess their willingness and readiness to change.
Methods: Method: A voluntary and anonymous, representative online survey with 66 questions was administered to dentists, dental students, dental assistants, dental technicians and students of the listed disciplines, regardless of age and gender, who were working or studying at the departments of Semmelweis University Faculty of Dentistry. Data collection took place between 21 February 2021 and 30 April 2021.
Results: Results: 141 respondents, 80.9% of whom were dentists or dental students, filled the questionnaire. 81.6% of them acquired their knowledge of sustainability from online media content. More than 80% of them consider climate change an important or high priority global problem. In both workplace and everyday sustainability, selective waste collection, energy conservation and efficiency were the most common, while reducing meat consumption, environmental activism and talking about sustainability were the least common aspects. Respondents identified selective waste collection, reducing paper use and upgrading building energetics as the most necessary improvements in workplace sustainability. Switching from single-use towards reusable dental equipment in clinical care is moderately advocated by the respondents.
Conclusions: Conclusions: The overall attitudes of the study sample towards sustainability are good. The responses also highlighted some gaps in this area and can help planning the necessary further steps.
The combination of awareness and strong beliefs can create the motivation for conscious bottom-up actions, which is the key for an institutional shift towards sustainable dental care.
Our Sustainable Dentistry Working Group has been established to catalyse these transformations.