EC Dental Science

Background: This study aimed to assess the perceptions of dentists and dental students in Saudi Arabia toward using patient images in scientific publications.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dentists and dental students who live in Saudi Arabia using a questionnaire that was distributed online. It comprised 28 items divided into five sections. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of 0.05, and SPSS was used for data analysis.

Results: A total of 19.7% of the study’s participants had published articles featuring patient images. Among these, 53.2% agreed with publishing identifiable images in medical journals, 46.8% on websites, and 75.86% for de-identifiable images. The majority (87.68%) believe patients must be informed about the use of their images, including faces and oral cavities, while 92.61% think patient consent is always necessary to use their data in medical research. Many participants feel dentists should obtain written consent for using images of the oral cavity (55.67%), blurred faces (83.74%), de-identifiable faces (82.76%), and hands (51.72%). However, 24.63% believe dentists can publish radiographic images without patient permission. Significantly, females (p < 0.05) were more likely to publish identifiable images in medical journals and on websites than males.

Conclusion: A significant portion of dental professionals believe that patient consent is essential for using identifiable images in research, yet many still publish photos without satisfactory clear consent practices in place. To enhance ethical standards in dental research, it is crucial to implement awareness campaigns aimed at educating healthcare workers about the importance of obtaining written consent for all patient images.

 Keywords: Clinical Photography; Scientific Publication; Dentists; Saudi Arabia

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