Are dentists influenced by gifts and incentives?
and from the University鈥檚 Faculty of Dentistry argue that while there may be scenarios where dentists are conscious of influence and subsequent bias in their decision making, evidence suggests that many times, dentists may be unaware of such influence and bias.
They refer to this phenomenon as a 鈥渂ias blind spot鈥� in their piece published in the Journal of Law and Medicine.
Dental professionals have a duty to place patients first overtly and to provide care that is based upon solid evidence.
They say influence and incentives come from three main sources: professional colleagues, patients, and industry, especially the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries.
On the subject of gift-giving, for example, The Dental Board of Australia says dental professionals may accept small gifts of, 鈥渕inimal value such as flowers or chocolates.鈥�
In the journal paper, Dr Holden and Professor Spallek say existing guidelines for managing conflicts of interest are insufficient, and that 鈥渢here is little to be found in the way of a professional discussion about this issue within dentistry.
鈥淒ental professionals have a duty to place patients first overtly and to provide care that is based upon solid evidence. Industry, both pharmaceutical and otherwise, has a role in supporting this and must scrutinise any practice which could call the profession鈥檚 integrity into question,鈥� say the authors.
