Patient Perception of Dental Students’ Professionalism

Abstract: ABSTRACT  Aim: Professionalism is an important and integrated part of dentistry and an essential characteristic in dentists. The aim of this study is to evaluate how patients perceive dental student’s professionalism and if their perception differs between male and female dental students at the Faculty of Odontology at Malmö University.  Material & method: By using definitions of professionalism, a cross-sectional survey with eight statements was created to evaluate the patients’ perceptions of the dental student’s professionalism. For each of the statements, patients responded through a five-point Likert scale. The results were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25 programme and p ≤ 0,05 as a significant p-value.  Results: Majority of the 103 patients that participated in the survey had a positive response to all eight statement and only three patients responded negatively. Dental students in their final years generally received better reviews than students in their second or third year. 100% of the patients agreed completely that they felt respectfully treated by the students. Male dental student received slightly higher percentage in two statement that of them being more knowledge and able to care for the patient in the best way possible. No significant results, p ≤ 0,05, were obtained.  Conclusion: The patients generally perceived dental students to be professional and that the student’s professionalism increases as their education progresses. Male and female dental students were largely considered equally professional. More studies are necessary on professionalism in dental educations.