BackgroundOn July 1st 2013 the Mandatory Reporting Code Act came into force in the Netherlands, making it compulsory for health professionals to adhere to a reporting code when they suspect patients to be victims of domestic violence (DV) or child abuse (CA). The Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT) developed a reporting code for dental professionals (RCD). Moreover, an e-learning module about DV has been developed. A web-survey was conducted to investigate how general dental practitioners (GDPs) deal with the RCD and what their experiences are with (signs of) DV and CA.MethodsIn April 2014 1038 GDPs were invited by e-mail to participate in a web-survey consisting of 24 items, through the KNMT Data Stations Project. The data was analyzed using SPSS (RELIABILITY, CHISQ and ANOVA).ResultsOf all GDPs invited to participate 264 (25 %) responded. 82 % of these GDPs are aware of their obligation to use the reporting code. 54 % of the GDPs are in favor of this obligation. 76 % of the GDPs have taken notice of the KNMT’s RCD and 51 % of the GDPs have implemented the reporting code in one form or another in their practice. 24 % of the GDPs stated having suspected DV during the last twelve months in the case of 2.4 patients on average. 81 % took note of this in the patient’s record and 58 % also took action in different ways. 54 % wants to complete the e-learning module.ConclusionsMost GDPs are aware of the new legislation and have taken cognizance of the RCD. Even though the majority of GDPs are not opposed to using a reporting code, over half of them have not yet implemented the code in practice. An important factor in this regard seems to be that a substantial minority of the GDPs says they are not sufficiently informed about aspects of reporting a case and about the steps they have to take.

Nationwide data show blood exposure incidents occur frequently in dental settings, with a considerable number of high-risk incidents. Administering anaesthetics and cleaning-up are major risk factors. There is a need to intensify measures for safe working conditions in dental care settings in the Netherlands, irrespective of the type of dental practice.

The Netherlands has three dental schools, which are located at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and Radboudumc in Nijmegen.Although the curricula differ, the graduation requirements of all three schools are similar; all train students to become general dentists in accordance with the requirements of Dutch regulations. All

BackgroundA complaint from a patient can have a serious impact on the well-being of dentists. Little is known, however, about the nature and the extent of this impact.MethodsTherefore in 2013 an anonymous survey was conducted among 955 dentists and dental specialists who were involved in a complaints procedure dealt with by the Complaints Committee of the Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT) in the period of mid-2008 to mid-2013.ResultsIn total 413 (43 %) of these dentists participated in the study. As a result of a formal complaint 71 % of the respondents experienced a considerable impact in their professional practising, while 52 % stated that it had (also) seriously influenced their attitude towards colleagues and patients. Furthermore, 60 % (also) mentioned effects of a complaints procedure regarding their mental and/or physical well-being.ConclusionsBeing confronted with a formal complaint from a patient leads to a considerable impact on dentists’ professional practice and personal well-being. It is remarkable this did not only pertain to a ‘negative’ impact, but also to a ‘positive’ impact. Despite unpleasant feelings, several dentists regarded the complaint as a ‘wake-up call’. Furthermore, given the relatively high number of successful mediation attempts it can be concluded that this form of complaint handling appears to be a successful way of solving problems that have arisen between patients and dentists.

Thema: Geschiedenis en tandheelkunde in NederlandSinds 1995 verricht de Nederlandse Maatschappij tot bevordering der Tandheelkunde onderzoek naar voornamelijk de niet-klinische aspecten van de beroepsuitoefening van tandartsen binnen het project Peilstations. Anno 2014 worden binnen dit project periodiek 5 deelonderzoeken uitgevoerd: het onderzoek 'Tandheelkundige Consumptie', het onderzoek 'Tandheelkundige Praktijkvoering', de 'Omnibusenquête', het onderzoek 'Jonge Tandartsen' en het onderzoek 'Kwaliteit van Mondzorg'. Uit de resultaten van deze onderzoeken blijkt dat tandartsen de afgelopen decennia meer en meer zijn gaan samenwerken. Dit uit zich in praktijken met meer tandartsen, meer medewerkers, meer behandelstoelen en meer patiënten. Toch is de omvang van de werkweek van tandartsen in de loop der jaren gemiddeld weinig veranderd. Zowel bij jeugdigen als bij volwassenen zijn er in de periode 1997-2011 geleidelijke veranderingen opgetreden in de tandheelkundige consumptie. Door binnen het peilstationonderzoek de samenwerking met klinische onderzoekers te intensiveren kan de focus van het onderzoek worden verbreed naar de kwaliteit van mondzorg en de effecten van verleende zorg op de mondgezondheid in Nederland.Bruers JJM, Boer JCL den, Dam BAFM van. Project Peilstations: monitor van de tandheelkundige beroepsuitoefening in Nederland Ned