Patients have been expressing gratitude to dental professionals in unexpected ways, from chocolates and flowers to homegrown vegetables, a recent survey revealed. The Dental Defence Union (DDU) conducted a survey among 460 dental professionals, indicating that 90% of them received either a gift or a thank-you message from their patients in the past year.
Chocolates topped the list as the most common gesture, with 70% of respondents receiving them. Following closely were flowers, received by a third of the professionals (33%), and alcohol, which made up 28% of the gifts. Among the more unique presents were a homegrown cabbage, a back scratcher, dog toys, and even a sheep (which, understandably, was declined).
John Makin, head of the DDU, expressed satisfaction over patients’ gestures, highlighting how patients chose to appreciate the care provided by dental professionals. He emphasized that while these gifts are appreciated, colleagues do not anticipate or expect such gestures, especially given the current rise in living costs. Many professionals derive just as much satisfaction from doing their jobs well.
The General Dental Council (GDC) advises dental professionals to decline gifts that could impact their professional judgment or create such an impression.
In terms of professional boundaries, John pointed out that the majority of dental professionals (89%) didn’t harbour concerns regarding the motives behind gift-giving. Only a small fraction expressed worries that a gift might compromise professional boundaries (6%) or that patients might try to influence decisions (3%).
Nonetheless, he stressed the importance of ensuring that gifts don’t lead to ethical issues. To maintain transparency, it’s recommended that professionals avoid accepting costly gifts and maintain a record of all received gifts, even though only a quarter (24%) reported their workplaces having such a register. Surprisingly, over half (56%) admitted to not keeping any records at all, while 19% were uncertain about this aspect.
