Does Gender Identity Influence Dentists' Clinical Decision-Making? A Randomized Study
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 204
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Treatment Recommendation for Posterior Tooth
研究概览
简要总结
This randomized study evaluated whether patient gender identity influences dentists' clinical decision-making. Dentists in southern Brazil were randomly assigned to receive one of two versions of the same hypothetical dental clinical case. The cases were identical except for the patient's gender identity, which was presented as either a transgender woman or a cisgender woman.
Participants selected treatment options for anterior and posterior teeth and completed questionnaires regarding professional characteristics and knowledge about transgender health. The primary objective was to determine whether patient gender identity influenced treatment recommendations. Differences in clinical decision-making between groups were analyzed using regression models.
详细描述
Clinical decision-making in dentistry may be influenced by factors beyond clinical findings, including professional characteristics, personal beliefs, and social perceptions. While disparities related to race and socioeconomic status have been documented in oral health care, little is known about the influence of patient gender identity on dentists' treatment decisions.
This randomized parallel-group study was conducted among practicing dentists in southern Brazil between September 2023 and April 2024. Participants were randomly assigned to evaluate one of two versions of a hypothetical dental clinical case. The clinical information, photographs, complaints, and treatment scenarios were identical in both versions, differing only in the patient's gender identity. In one version, the patient was identified as a transgender woman, while in the other the patient was identified as a cisgender woman.
Participants selected treatment options for an anterior tooth and a posterior tooth and subsequently completed questionnaires addressing sociodemographic characteristics, professional profile, previous experience with transgender patients, and training related to transgender health. The primary outcome was the treatment recommendation provided by the dentist. Recommendations were categorized into conservative and invasive treatment approaches for analysis.
The study aimed to determine whether patient gender identity influences dentists' clinical decision-making and to identify professional characteristics associated with treatment recommendations.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Health Services Research
- 盲法
- Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
盲法说明
Participants were blinded to the primary objective of the study and were unaware that patient gender identity was the variable of interest. The informed consent form was modified to avoid revealing the specific focus of the research. In addition, the statistician responsible for data analysis remained blinded to group allocation throughout the analytical process.
入排标准
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Professionally active dentists.
- •Able and willing to provide informed consent.
- •Practicing dentistry during the data collection period.
排除标准
- •Dentists not actively practicing during the data collection period.
- •Dentists who participated in the pilot study.
- •Individuals who declined participation or did not provide informed consent.
结局指标
主要结局
Treatment Recommendation for Posterior Tooth
时间窗: Immediately after questionnaire completion
Treatment recommendation for tooth 26 based on the assigned clinical case. Available options included endodontic treatment followed by direct composite restoration, endodontic treatment followed by indirect ceramic restoration, or extraction.
Treatment Recommendation for Anterior Tooth
时间窗: Immediately after questionnaire completion
Treatment recommendation for tooth 11 based on the assigned clinical case. Available options included no intervention, repair of the composite restoration, replacement of the restoration, direct composite veneer, or indirect ceramic veneer.
次要结局
未报告次要终点
研究者
FELIPE SOMAVILLA BINOTTO
Graduate Researcher
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria