(PO-137) Inappropriate Patient Sexual Behavior in the Dental Practice Setting

Author: Priya Patel, RDH, MS – MCPHS University/Forsyth School of DH
Author: Dianne L. Smallidge, RDH, EdD – Professor and Interim Dean, MCPHS University/Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene
Author: Linda D. Boyd, RDH, RD, EdD – Professor & Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, MCPHS University
Author: Jared Vineyard, Ph.D. – Adjunct Professor, MCPHS University/Forsyth School of DH
Submitter: Dianne L. Smallidge, RDH, EdD – Professor and Interim Dean, MCPHS University/Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene

Objectives. Workplace violence (WPV) and inappropriate patient sexual behavior (IPSB) have become prevalent in dental practice settings throughout the US. Previous research has found health care professionals are at 16-times higher risk of experiencing WPV and IPSB than other occupations. Occurrences of IPSB have been difficult to measure due to underreporting by health professionals. Research exploring the prevalence of IPSB with dental hygienists in the practice setting has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine dental hygienists’ experiences with IPSB in the workplace.

Methods. A cross-sectional survey research design, and convenience and purposive sampling, were used in the study with practicing dental hygienists (n=471), recruited via social media websites. The validated survey was comprised of demographic and IPSB-related questions, with one open-ended question included for participants 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%. Findings showed career occurrence of IPSB was 85.8% among DHs, and occurrence within the last 12-month period was 63.5%. The reported IPSBs were categorized into three levels of severity. Participants who had experienced all three severity categories had the lowest median number of years in practice (Md=5.0), while those who did not experience a mild event in the last 12 months had a higher median number of years in practice (Md=10), p=0.007. Sixty-nine participants responded to the open-ended questions and emerging themes included; type 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 warrants the need for integration of training for dental hygiene students to recognize and manage IPSB, and for improved workplace policies for current practitioners to support them in their management of IPSB.