Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding informed consent among dental professionals in Madina City, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of dental professionals regarding informed consent (IC) in Madina City. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted. The questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability before it was distributed using Google Forms through WhatsApp among a sample of 299 dental professionals working in Madina City. IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for analysis. RESULTS: Two-hundred ninety-nine responses were collected. Sixty percent scored less than the group average regarding knowledge, and 52% scored less than the group average regarding attitude. Regarding practice, 57% scored below the group average. Saudi dentists and those who work in the Ministry of Health (MOH) had better knowledge scores than other tested groups. Dentists working in the MOH had better attitude and practice scores than those who work in the private sector. Regarding attitude and practice, consultants achieved better scores than registrars and general dentists. More than 90% indicated that the main reason for obtaining an IC is to protect themselves from legal actions. CONCLUSION: The KAP of surveyed dental professionals in Madina is suboptimal and needs improvement.