SynthesisBritish dental journal2025
A review of sexual misconduct in dentistry.
Synthesis in British dental journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background Sexual misconduct in dentistry includes inappropriate behaviours from patients or staff, such as unwanted advances, comments, gestures, or physical contact. This review aimed to explore the literature for the prevalence, causes, impacts and interventions of sexual misconduct in dentistry, to identify gaps and inform policy development and future research.Methods A systematic search of the academic literature was conducted to identify eligible articles published between 1 January 2010 and 31 October 2024. Eligible articles were those of any study design that captured and reported on data relating to sexual misconduct in dental care settings and were available in the English language. Quantitative data were summarised narratively and key findings grouped according to the common themes identified.Results A total of 2,238 articles were screened, with 23 peer-reviewed articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Findings revealed a limited global representation and general restriction to sexual misconduct prevalence data, with no studies reporting on the implementation or effectiveness of interventions targeting sexual misconduct behaviours. Prevalence data were broad (5-86%), with underreporting of incidences also highlighted and witnessing sexual misconduct also common (25-40% within studies). Contributing factors to sexual misconduct included power hierarchies, informal settings involving alcohol, poor reporting mechanisms and fear of retaliation. Male dentists and patients were overrepresented as perpetrators. Victims experienced emotional trauma, professional disengagement and reluctance to report. Recommendations from studies emphasised training, robust policies, supportive environments, restorative justice and balanced media representation.Conclusion Systemic change is urgently needed to address sexual misconduct in dentistry. Limited UK-based research indicates the need to prioritise qualitative insights and intervention effectiveness to create safer, equitable dental workplaces.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.