title: Treatment decision-making: student choices of autonomy versus paternalism.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate dental students' use of the Hippocratic Principle versus a patient-autonomy approach to ethical decision-making. A questionnaire composed of three independent case situations was distributed to 113 junior dental students. The survey instrument allowed subjects to prioritize their choices of action from a series of alternative responses and to identify factors that influence their choice of action. A majority of responses appear to reflect a decision-making process based on patient-autonomy principles. Patient rights are important for this population, and their choice of action and the factors influencing these choices consistently emphasized autonomy.
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry, Ohio State University.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Odom
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Messina
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003657:Decision Making; D004990:Ethics, Dental; D006625:Hippocratic Oath; D006801:Humans; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010358:Patient Participation; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires