title: A comparison of expectations and impressions of ethical characteristics of dentists: results of a community primary care survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To better define potential challenges in dental professional ethics, the authors gathered data regarding patients' characterizations of an ideal dentist and compared them with their impressions of dentists in general.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors invited 500 consecutively seen primary care patients at an academic medical center to participate in the study. Participants completed a 32-item survey assessing key domains of ethical characteristics of health care professionals: trustworthiness, honesty, beneficence, nonmaleficence, respect for autonomy, empathy, compassion, patience, courage, humility and dedication. The authors used the McNemar paired t test to compare respondents' ratings of ideal dentists with their ratings of dentists in general.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred eight-five patients returned completed surveys, for a response rate of 57 percent. The authors found statistically significant differences between ideal and perceived characteristics in all but one domain. The area of greatest difference related to the domain of trustworthiness (that is, dentists should not "propose unnecessary treatments just so they can make money"). For this survey item, 98 percent of patients reported that it was very or extremely important, but only 57 percent of respondents moderately or strongly agreed that dentists in general were engaging in this practice (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data reveal gaps between patients' expectations of the dental profession and their actual impressions of dentists in general. Addressing these discrepancies may be crucial if dentistry is to continue to enjoy the public's trust.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Reid is an assistant professor of dentistry, Department of Dental Specialties, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. S.W., Rochester, Minn. 55905, e-mail Reid.Kevin@mayo.edu. Address correspondence to Dr. Reid.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Ms. Humeniuk is a research coordinator, Biomedical Ethics Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Humeniuk
authors.affiliation: Dr. Henriksen Hellyer is an ethics consult program coordinator, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
authors.forename: Joan Henriksen
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hellyer
authors.affiliation: Dr. Thorsteinsdottir is an assistant professor of medicine, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
authors.forename: Bjorg
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thorsteinsdottir
authors.affiliation: Dr. Tilburt is an associate professor of medical ethics, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
authors.forename: Jon C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tilburt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004990:Ethics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Dental ethics; professionalism; virtue ethics