Dental Hygienist, University of Oslo.
Center for Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Gjøvik, Norway.
Acta Odontol Scand. 2024 Nov 5;83:611-615. doi: 10.2340/aos.v83.42269.
As overtreatment has gained attention and is a threat to sustainable healthcare, the objective of this study is to investigate Norwegian private practice dentists' conceptions of overtreatment. Material and Methods: Six private practice dentists were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by thematic analysis in a six-step process including coding and identifying main- and sub-themes.
The main themes identified were conceptions of overtreatment, internal factors, and external conditions of importance for overtreatment. Norwegian private practice dentists are familiar with the concept overtreatment and provide several examples of overtreatment. Although they see overtreatment as a problem, they express that the boundaries of what is considered necessary or professionally justified treatment have changed over time - particularly towards aesthetic and cosmetic treatment. Overtreatment is considered to be less problematic if the patients are informed and consent. The participants point to several internal factors and external conditions furthering overtreatment: professional status and prestige, general social trends, social media, demographic changes, overcapacity, and the expansion of commercial chains. The dentists in the interviews demonstrated that they are aware of their power, but also acknowledge their responsibility. Conclusion: Private practice dentists in Norway are aware of overtreatment and their drivers. They acknowledge their power to promote overtreatment, but also that this gives them responsibility. This raises important issues about dentists' professional accountability and integrity.
由于过度治疗受到关注并对可持续医疗构成威胁，本研究旨在探讨挪威私人执业牙医对过度治疗的概念。
对 6 名私人执业牙医进行了访谈。访谈内容逐字转录，并通过主题分析进行分析，主题分析包括编码和识别主要和次要主题的六个步骤。
确定的主要主题包括过度治疗的概念、内部因素以及对过度治疗重要的外部条件。挪威私人执业牙医熟悉过度治疗的概念，并提供了过度治疗的几个例子。尽管他们认为过度治疗是一个问题，但他们表示，随着时间的推移，被认为是必要的或专业合理的治疗的界限已经发生了变化——特别是针对美容和美容治疗。如果患者知情并同意，过度治疗被认为不太成问题。参与者指出了几个促进过度治疗的内部因素和外部条件：专业地位和声望、普遍的社会趋势、社交媒体、人口变化、产能过剩以及商业连锁店的扩张。访谈中的牙医表明，他们意识到自己的权力，但也承认自己的责任。
挪威私人执业牙医意识到过度治疗及其驱动因素。他们承认自己有促进过度治疗的权力，但也认为这使他们负有责任。这引发了有关牙医专业责任和诚信的重要问题。
