IADR Abstract Archives

Questions Asked by Patients in Dental Care and Informed Consent

Patients have the right to ask questions in order make decisions about their treatment. In order to give informed consent, their questions should also include treatment options available, benefits and risks of the options. Without this information from oral health workers, patients’ consent may not be deemed informed. Objective: To investigate whether questions asked by respondents, about their treatment, from oral health workers, were sufficient for informed consent. Methods: A self –administered 34-item questionnaire that included demographic and past oral health history was completed by student nurses (n=173), in their first, second and third years of training. Only students who had had treatment in the past three years were included in the study. Results: The majority of respondents were females (94.7% or161). The mean age was 26.49 years (SD = 5.7.0, range 17-42). 153 (89.47%) were treated by dentists.One hundred and seventeen (78%) were given opportunity to ask questions. (94 or 80%) asked questions. Frequently asked questions pertained to; nature of treatment; whether pain would be experienced or not; costs and success of treatment. 99 (61.11%) chose their own treatment. Conclusion: Although the questions asked were important, they lack the key ethical information about treatment options available, benefits and risks of the options.


Division: South African Division
Meeting: 2004 South African Division (Pretoria, South Africa)
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Year: 2004
Final Presentation ID: 0
Abstract Category|Abstract Category(s): Scientific Groups
Authors
  • Tsotsi, Norma Mabel  ( University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, N/A, South Africa )
  • Rudolph, Michael J  ( University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, N/A, South Africa )
  • Yengopal, V  ( University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, N/A, South Africa )
  • SESSION INFORMATION
    Oral Session
    Educational Research