Evaluation of the Observance of the Charter of Patients’ Rights by General Dentists

In order to ensure that the quality of health care improves, the observance of medical ethics and patients’ rights is inevitable. The present study was conducted to determine how much dentists practicing in Khorramabad, Iran, in 2020 complied with the Charter of Patients’ Rights.

This was a descriptive-analytical study that was performed on 70 general dentists in Khorramabad from March 2019 to March 2020. The participants were selected by the census sampling method. Data were collected using the Patients’ Rights Questionnaire designed based on ethical codes approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 at a significance level of 0.05.

The mean age was 34.58±7.21 in women and 38.84±9.82 in men. The awareness level of the dentists regarding the Charter of Patients’ Rights was 47±0.12.The highest score was related to explaining and clarifying the charged expenses with 71.4%. The lowest scores were related to providing expert testimony about the illegal practices of a colleague with 22.9% and explaining the treatment method to patients with 25.7%. Work experience had a weak correlation with awareness levels (r=0.2, p=0.095). There was no significant difference between men and women in terms of awareness levels (p=0.139).

Ethical Considerations: 

This article is the result of a research project with the ethical code IR.LUMS.REC.1397.190. Adequate explanations about the objectives of the research were given to the subjects. They were assured that all information collected in this study was confidential.

The awareness level of general dentists who were examined, about the observance of the principles of professional ethics was below average. Therefore, it is necessary for medical universities to pay more attention to aspects of patients’ rights that are less observed by dentists. It is obvious that observing the principles of professional ethics will increasingly gain patients’ trust and as a result, will promote the health level of the society.