Assessment of Professionalism and Code of Conduct and Behavioral Etiquettes among Dental Students in Udaipur: An Institutional Study

Abstract

Background: Dental ethics encompasses the moral principles and values that guide the behavior of dental professionals. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the manner to bring in which concerns about how dental ethics affects professionalism among dental practitioners and students.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed using a digital self-administered questionnaire based on non-probability convenience sampling, and the study was undertaken involving an Indian population that consisted of dental students through a questionnaire comprising 23 predefined responses, including ethical/dress code, professional attitude toward colleagues, and relationship between senior and junior dental students and professionals related questions. The pilot study was conducted on 20 participants to validate the questionnaire.

Result: This study employed a large-scale online survey in which 238 responses were recorded. More than half of the respondents were females (53.2%). The majority of people have heard about the term ethical code of conduct in dentistry. Moreover, most people believed in “hygienic appearance for dental professionals” and “good behavior in classroom” for maintaining the ethical code of conduct among dentists and dental students.

Conclusion: A professional person is expected to have respect for human beings, competence in his chosen field, integrity, and a primary concern with service rather than with prestige or profit.

Key words:  Dental ethics, Professionalism, Code of conduct, Behavioral etiquette, Dental students