Dentists’ willingness to report suspected violence cases in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

A BSTRACT Background and Aim: Violence is a life-threatening issue that mainly affects head and neck areas. Dentist might be the first person to notice this type of injury. This study aimed to investigate dentists’ willingness to report suspected violence exposure of their patients and factors associated with their willingness. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 363 dentists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a previously validated self-administered questionnaire was distributed, in both printed and electronic forms (Google Forms), to collect data on personal characteristics, professional background, and negative perception and professional attitude toward reporting suspected violence. Descriptive and analytic statistics were applied. Significance was considered at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The majority of dentists reported positive perception (88.4%) and positive attitude (68.0%) toward reporting suspected violence, with percentage mean scores of 35.2 ± 19.6 and 83.5 ± 15.0, respectively. Higher professional attitude score was significantly associated with the ability of dentists to recognize signs of violence ( t = 3.19, P = 0.002). Negative perception mean scores were significantly higher with non-Saudi nationality ( t = 2.03, P = 0.043), private sector ( F = 3.33, P = 0.037), no training on abuse management ( t = 3.02, P = 0.003), and perceived ability to identify victims of violence ( t = 2.61, P = 0.01). After adjusting for potential confounders, negative perception was predicted by non-Saudi nationality ( P = 0.028) and no history of previous training in abuse management ( P = 0.004). Conclusion: Almost all dentists have high professional attitude scores and low negative perception scores toward reporting violence, which reflect a good sense of responsibility toward their patients and community. Educational training in abuse management must be a requirement for dental practice.

Interpersonal violence education: An analysis of the Spanish oral health school's curricula and future requirements

“…Similarly, updating the information and reporting more than five years of clinical experience were significant determinants for the practitioners to report wider case management skills. Moreover, a recent study on the willingness to report suspected violence cases by dentists also practicing in Saudi Arabia concluded that the lack history of previous training in abuse management is a predictor for the ability of dentists to detect signs of violence as well as their willingness to report suspected violence exposure 15 …”

“…According to Polyzois et al, 28 the type of undergraduate academic training that the dentist has received does not affect their subsequent continuing education during professional practice but depends more on other factors such as family, demographic, or professional circumstances. However, they have shown to adopt a proactive behaviour against violence and to install a protective policy after receiving adequate undergraduate and postgraduate training 14,15,24,26,27 . The competences needed to practice dentistry in addition to academic training include operational mental attitudes to successfully face challenging situations 29 .…”

“…Moreover, a recent study on the willingness to report suspected violence cases by dentists also practicing in Saudi Arabia concluded that the lack history of previous training in abuse management is a predictor for the ability of dentists to detect signs of violence as well as their willingness to report suspected violence exposure. 15 Paediatric dentistry was also frequently mentioned by the respondents (39%) as a specialty in which Dentistry student's competence-knowledge, skills and attitude-must lead to detect specific cases of violence such as child abuse. Data were collected by the Ondokuz Mayis University School of Dentistry 16 through a questionnaire applied to 248 dentistry students (137 women/111 men).…”

“…However, not only is undergraduate training necessary, but most of the reviewed studies 14,15,24,26,27 agree on the need for continuous professional development on IPV, since Practicing Oral Health professionals perceive their competences on the management of victims of abuse and neglect as frail. According to Polyzois et al, 28 the type of undergraduate academic training that the dentist has received does not affect their subsequent continuing education during professional practice but depends more on other factors such as family, demographic, or professional circumstances.…”

“…However, they have shown to adopt a proactive behaviour against violence and to install a protective policy after receiving adequate undergraduate and postgraduate training. 14,15,24,26,27 The competences needed to practice dentistry in addition to academic training include operational mental attitudes to successfully face challenging situations. 29 Commitment, confidence, visualisation, mental preparation, concentration, distraction control and evaluation and coping mechanisms proved to be the common elements of formative success.…”