Resumo

NDAGIRE, B et al. Patients' Understanding of Information Provided During Consent Process for Fixed Prosthodontic Treatment: A Mixed Methods Study at Dental Facilities in Kampala. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2025, vol.80, n.10, pp.532-538. ISSN 0375-1562.  https://doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v80i10.21455.

INTRODUCTION: Obtaining valid informed consent requires that patients understand treatment information. This is crucial for irreversible procedures, like fixed prosthodontic treatment, where dentists are required to communicate highly technical information to patients with different literacy levels and treatment expectations. Failure of patients to understand some aspects of the treatment may result in dissatisfaction and complaints. There is limited data about dental patients' understanding of treatment information in Uganda AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This study explored patients' understanding of information provided for fixed prosthodontic treatment at two dental care facilities in Kampala, Uganda DESIGN: Parallel-convergent mixed methods METHODS: A survey was carried out on 216 patients and 19 in-depth interviews at two dental facilities. The patients had received information from their dentists about the fixed prosthodontic treatment they were to undergo. Quantitative data were collected using a pretested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 5 items on a 4-point Likert scale and a checklist of 19 items to collect data on patients' subjective and objective understanding of the information provided, respectively. An interview guide facilitated the interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square statistics. Total scores were computed for the assessment of objective understanding and categorized as adequate, moderate, or inadequate understanding, on attaining 80100%, 50-79% or less than 50% of the maximum possible score. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis RESULTS: Over three quarters (> 85.0%) of the patients reported to have received the information during a verbal discussion with their dentist at prior appointment. Several participants reported that they were not informed about the possible risks (48.4%) or alternative treatments (22.2%). More than two-thirds felt that they had understood well (subjective understanding) many aspects of the treatment information, but only 13.4% of them had an adequate objective understanding. Treatment procedures and alternative treatment options were the most difficult to understand. There was no significant association between subjective and objective understanding CONCLUSIONS: Most participants did not adequately understand the information. Results indicate the need to develop interventions to enhance patient understanding of information provided during the consent process and measures for objective assessment of' understanding

Palavras-chave : fixed prosthodontic treatment; informed consent; information; understanding.

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