PROFESSIONALISM AND THE DIGITAL FRONTIER: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF DENTAL RESIDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE OF DIGITAL PRIVACY AND LEGAL LIABILITY IN PESHAWAR
Main Article Content
Keywords
Digital professionalism; Dental residents; Patient privacy; Clinical photography; Social media; Qualitative research.
Abstract
Background: Professionalism in dentistry is increasingly challenged by the widespread use of mobile technology in clinical practice. In dental teaching hospitals, smartphones are commonly used for clinical photography, consultation, and academic discussion. However, these practices may pose risks to patient confidentiality and data security, particularly when healthcare professionals are unaware of relevant medicolegal regulations.
Objective: To explore dental residents’ perceptions, knowledge, and practices regarding digital privacy, informed consent, and legal liability related to clinical photography and social media use.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in major dental teaching hospitals in Peshawar from November 2024 to April 2025. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 senior dental residents recruited through purposive sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. NVivo 14 software was used to organize and manage the data. A total of 60 initial codes were identified, which were grouped into 20 sub-themes and categorized into five major themes.
Results: Five major themes emerged from the analysis: Digital Documentation for Education, Consent and Anonymity Ambiguity, Institutional Guideline Vacuum, Legal Knowledge Deficit, and The Social Media Paradox. Residents frequently used smartphones for clinical documentation and consultation but demonstrated limited understanding of legal regulations governing patient confidentiality and digital privacy.
Conclusion: Dental residents in Peshawar frequently prioritize educational and clinical convenience over digital privacy considerations. The absence of institutional policies and limited medicolegal awareness creates potential risks for patient confidentiality breaches. Integrating digital professionalism training and institutional guidelines into dental education is essential.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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Khadija Bibi
BDS, MPH, MHPE (Scholar) Lecturer, Department of Dental Education, Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar,
Kaisar Khan
BDS, MDS (Prosthodontics), MHPE (scholar) KMU, Peshawar
Zoeya Ayesha Khan
Pre-Law student (rising senior), The University of Texas, Austin, Texas
Wasif Ali Shah
BDS, MHPE (Scholar), Lecturer, Orthodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Kohat, Khyber Medical University
Syed Gohar Hussain Shah
BDS, MHPE (Scholar) Lecturer, Department of Dental Education, Dental Section, Abbottabad International Medical College, Abbottabad
Sharqa Yasin
BDS, House Officer, Institute of Dental Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Kohat
