title: Dutch dental patients on informed consent: knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and behaviour.
abstract: In The Netherlands, the legal doctrine of informed consent is established in the 'Medical Treatment Contract Act', which was introduced in 1995. This study assessed dental patients' knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy, as well as their self-reported behaviour concerning informed consent. One hundred and twenty-eight patients (response rate: 91.4%) filled out a questionnaire on these topics, right after their treatment or consultation. Results show that only a minority of the patients is acquainted with the 'Medical Treatment Contract Act'. However, their specific rights concerning informed consent are better known. On the other hand, patients' attitudes and self-efficacy were less positive. Dental patients' self-reported behaviour, did not reflect their attitudes and self-efficacy though. Contrary to social-psychological theory, almost no significant relations were found between the four measured variables, and self-reported behaviour could hardly be predicted by patients' knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy. In light of these findings, it is concluded that other factors, which take into account more of a consumerist perspective on the dentist-patient relationship, probably play a more important role in predicting to what extent patients assert their rights in dental practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Dentistry and Health Education, Academic Centre of Dentistry, Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.schouten@acta.nl
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoogstraten
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eijkman
mesh_terms: D003729:Dental Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009426:Netherlands; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires