Developing a measure for evaluation of ethical perceptions of dental practitioners in India

The study aims to develop and empirically validate a measure of Ethical perceptions for Dental Practitioners in India based on the Principles of ethics enumerated by American Dental Association. A five-dimensional 64 item scale was used to measure the ethical perceptions of Dental practitioners in Delhi NCR, India. Each of the dimensions of Autonomy, Non-Maleficence, beneficence, Justice a Veracity was validated through Confirmatory Factor Analysis using Amos 4.0. The Measurement model was also validated through CFA. The validated scale for measurement of ethical perceptions was five dimensional consisting of the respective pre dominant sub dimensions of Informed Consent for Autonomy; Personal Relationship for Non Maleficence, Community Service for Beneficence, Patient selection for Justice and Advertisement/Naming the Clinic for Veracity The study provides evidence of selective bias in ethical perceptions of dental practitioners as regards the components of Ethical Perceptions as many sub dimensions were not found to be valid indicators with Indian Dental Practitioners. The study thus indicates the need for education and training of DPs as per Code of Dental Ethics as regards the sub dimensions of Principles of Ethics. The study provides a valid measure for assessing Dental Practitioners and student's ethical perceptions related to Dentistry and the significant dimensions and attributes to measure the same. This is the first attempt to develop and empirically validate a scale for assessment of ethical perceptions of Dentists