GDC publishes findings on what ‘professionalism’ means to you and your patients

That’s one of the findings of a research paper published by the General Dental Council (GDC) based on independent research designed to inform a better understanding of the concept.

According to the GDC, the publication marks a major milestone in the regulator’s programme to develop new ‘principles of professionalism’, which will also see extensive engagement with stakeholders.

Some key findings include:

Executive Director, Strategy, at the GDC, Stefan Czerniawski, said: 'Professionalism is important both to patients and to dental professionals themselves – but they don’t always mean the same thing by it.

'This new research makes an important contribution to the shared understanding of what it means to be a professional and to the development of principles of professionalism. It is also a crucial part of our increased focus on upstream regulation, which aims to prevent harm from taking place. I look forward to discussing the research findings with patients and professionals as the work continues.'