Patients' Perceptions of Professionalism Among Dental Professionals at Umm Al-Qura University Dental Teaching Hospital

Professionalism in healthcare is essential for building patient trust and ensuring quality care. This study explores patients' perceptions of professionalism among dental professionals at Umm Al-Qura University Dental Teaching Hospital (Makkah, Saudi Arabia).

A cross-sectional survey was used to evaluate, from patients' perspectives, various dimensions of professionalism, including infection control, communication skills, and ethical behavior among dental professionals. The study was conducted over five months, from November 1, 2023, to April 1, 2024. We asked all patients who attended the dental hospital and met our inclusion criteria to participate in the research. We had a 34% response rate from the total number of patients visiting the dental teaching hospital.

The results indicate high patient satisfaction with adherence to professionals' sterilization, personal hygiene, and communication practices. However, there are lower scores in specific areas, such as non-verbal responses and patient education.

The findings of this investigation highlight the significance of professionalism's dimensions in influencing patient perceptions and overall satisfaction at the dental hospital. Elevated satisfaction ratings in domains such as compliance with sterilization procedures, personal hygiene standards, and communication competencies indicate the considerable weight patients place on these facets of dental professionalism.

This research provides insights into patients' perceptions of professionalism at Umm Al-Qura University Dental Teaching Hospital, highlighting professionals' strengths in adherence to sterilization protocols, personal hygiene, and communication skills, and suggesting opportunities for improvement in non-verbal communication and patient education to better align with patient expectations.