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Research ArticleResearch

Inappropriate Patient Sexual Behavior in the Dental Practice Setting: Experiences of dental hygienists

Priya Patel, Dianne L. Smallidge, Linda D. Boyd and Jared Vineyard
American Dental Hygienists' Association August 2021, 95 (4) 14-22;
Priya Patel
Graduate of the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, Master of Science degree program and a clinical dental hygienist from the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, MCPHS University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Dianne L. Smallidge
Professor and interim dean from the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, MCPHS University, Boston, MA, USA.
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  • For correspondence: dianne.smallidge@mcphs.edu
Linda D. Boyd
Professor and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies from the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, MCPHS University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Jared Vineyard
Adjunct faculty member from the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, MCPHS University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Abstract

Purpose: Workplace violence (WPV) and inappropriate patient sexual behavior (IPSB) have become increasingly prevalent in the United States. Previous research has shown health care professionals are at a 16-times higher risk of experiencing WPV and IPSB than other occupations, however, there is a lack of research in the field of dental hygiene. The purpose of the study was to examine the experiences of dental hygienists with IPSB in the workplace.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey research design was used with a purposive sample of clinical dental hygienists recruited through social media sites (n=471). The validated survey was comprised of demographic and IPSB-related questions, with one open-ended question to expand on experiences with IPSB. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, t-tests and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results: The survey completion rate was 49% (n=232). Career occurrence of IPSB was 85.8% and occurrence within the last 12-month period was 63.5% among the respondents. Participants who experienced all three categories of IPSB severity had the lowest median number of years in clinical practice (Md.=5.0) as compared to those who reported two categories (Md.=7) and those with only one category (Md.=10), p=0.01. Themes from the open-ended questions included types of patient perpetrating IPSB; type of IPSB behavior; and approaches to management of the IPSB.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of IPSB events among dental hygienists in this study warrants increased practitioner education, improved workplace policy and support for management of IPSB.

  • dental hygienists
  • workplace violence
  • inappropriate sexual behavior
  • sexual harassment
  • professional-patient relations
  • Received July 31, 2020.
  • Accepted December 14, 2020.
  • Copyright © 2021 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association

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American Dental Hygienists' Association: 95 (4)
American Dental Hygienists' Association
Vol. 95, Issue 4
August 2021
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Inappropriate Patient Sexual Behavior in the Dental Practice Setting: Experiences of dental hygienists
Priya Patel, Dianne L. Smallidge, Linda D. Boyd, Jared Vineyard
American Dental Hygienists' Association Aug 2021, 95 (4) 14-22;

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Inappropriate Patient Sexual Behavior in the Dental Practice Setting: Experiences of dental hygienists
Priya Patel, Dianne L. Smallidge, Linda D. Boyd, Jared Vineyard
American Dental Hygienists' Association Aug 2021, 95 (4) 14-22;
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Keywords

  • dental hygienists
  • workplace violence
  • inappropriate sexual behavior
  • sexual harassment
  • professional-patient relations

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