Consent Practice: Where are the Nigerian Orthodontists in this?
1 Department of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences. University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt. Rivers State. Nigeria.
2 Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Research Article
International Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archive, 2025, 09(01), 015-020.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijbpsa.2025.9.1.0026
Publication history:
Received on 11 January 2025; revised on 22 February 2025; accepted on 25 February 2025
Abstract:
Objective: Orthodontic procedures can be noninvasive or invasive. Any of them could lead to some facial changes, so it is pertinent to have an ethical cover before treating patients. The study aims to assess the utilization of consent processes before treatment by Nigerian orthodontic practitioners.
Materials and Methods: A self-administered Google-based questionnaire of 2 sections (A and B) was used to elicit information concerning socio-demographic data, attitude of obtaining consent for treatment by orthodontic practitioner, knowledge of different forms of consent, orthodontic procedures consent is obtained for, and the practice of obtaining consent before orthodontic treatment. The data obtained were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27, using descriptive statistics (percentages and frequencies). The test of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Sixty-six orthodontic practitioners were involved in the study, females (46, 69.7%), males (20, 30.3%). All participants thought obtaining consent for dental treatment was necessary and same for orthodontic treatment. Forty-nine (74.2%) were found to routinely obtain consent from their patients before treatment and informed consent was the most favoured type for most orthodontic procedures. Most orthodontic practitioners (43, 65.2%) routinely obtain written consent from patients, and fixed appliance therapy was the procedure with the most (24, 36.3%) obtained written consent.
Conclusion: Informed consent was obtained for most orthodontic procedures done in Nigeria, though written consent was obtained more for fixed appliance therapy. Most orthodontic practitioners in the teaching hospital routinely obtained written consent from their patients.
Keywords:
Orthodontic Practitioner; Written Consent; Fixed Appliance Therapy; Practice; Routine
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