Medical Ethics in Dentistry Practice: A Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Analysis of Dentists in Sudan

Background: Adherence to ethical principles is fundamental to dental practice, as it ensures patient trust, professional integrity, and quality of care. Despite this importance, evidence from various countries indicates substantial gaps in dentists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices. In the context of rapidly advancing dental technologies and increasing patient awareness, dentists are frequently confronted with complex ethical dilemmas that require sound ethical judgment and professionalism.


Objectives: The study aim to the assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental health professionals regarding health care ethics in Khartoum teaching hospital


Methods: Across sectional study on 350 dentists working in Khartoum teaching hospital used self-administrated questionnaire, including both open and close questions on about knowledge, attitude and practice. The returned questionaries were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Chi square test was used to compare between data.


Results: Around one third of participant dentist never attended an ethical course during graduation period and three quarter from the total population did not attend any course of ethics after graduation, moreover 40% of them know the Sudan medical oath content. Although 63% of the study group mention that they instruct their assistances about patient confidentiality but they act in opposite way regarded disclosure of patient clinical history.


Conclusion: Adequate and sufficient pre and post-graduation ethical courses with updating teaching methodology and an appropriate, continuous training and assessment program is recommended in order to enhance dentist knowledge, attitude and practice in regard to ethical issues.