Knowledge and awareness of medicolegal aspects among dental practitioners in rural, urban, and suburban areas of Indonesia: a cross-sectional study

Dental professionals need a comprehensive knowledge of both clinical and medicolegal aspects to effectively manage patient care. In Indonesia, various geographical and socioeconomic conditions in rural, urban, and suburban areas present unique challenges. This study assesses the knowledge and awareness of the medicolegal system among dentists in these varied practice settings. An observational analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 274 dental practitioners from rural, urban, and suburban areas of Indonesia. Data were collected through an online survey that evaluated knowledge and awareness of medicolegal aspects in dental practice. Knowledge was measured with ten specific questions, with scores greater than 7.5 indicating satisfactory knowledge. Awareness was evaluated using 22 Likert scale statements, with scores over 66 reflecting high awareness. Statistical analysis, including the Chi-square test, compared knowledge and awareness across different regions and examined the correlations of these factors. The study did not find differences in medicolegal knowledge and awareness based on the location of the practice (p>0.05). 85.8% of the respondents had inadequate knowledge, while 65.7% demonstrated satisfactory awareness. Additionally, the workload did not significantly affect knowledge or awareness (p>0.05). Geographic location, workload, and gender do not significantly impact the medicolegal knowledge and awareness of dental practitioners in Indonesia. However, the study highlights a substantial knowledge gap, underscoring the need for better education and training in this area to improve the legal proficiency of dental professionals.