Awareness of CPA (consumer Protection Act) among Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of South India Poojary Dharnappa1, Kudpi Ramya Shenoy2,*, Shetty Premalatha3, Shetty Mahabalesh4, Rashmi K.S.5, Prince Jefferson6 1Associate Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 2Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 3Associate Dean & Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 4Professor & Head, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore 5Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Kastruba Medical College, Mangalore. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 6Assistant Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal *Corresponding Author: Dr. Ramya Shenoy Kudpi, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Email: ramya.shenoy@manipal.edu
Online published on 4 June, 2019. Abstract Introduction Consumer protection act (CPA) an act to provide for better protection of interests of customers. With increased consumer awareness, rising expectation, western trend of medical liability litigation and judicial activism the increasing number of complaints are being filed by dissatisfied patients resulting in growing distrust between patients and doctors and increased cost of medical treatment. Hence this study was designed to assess the level of awareness about Consumer Protection Act/CPA among the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. Materials and Method A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted among Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. Data was collected over a period of two months. The questionnaire consisted of 18 questions of CPA relevant to the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon. A written informed consent was obtained from the each participant before filling the questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA) Descriptive statistics were obtained and frequency distribution was calculated for awareness among Oral surgeons regarding CPA. Results The questionnaire had 18 items and options had to be selected. This survey comprised of a total of 300 participants. About 71 questionnaire were not filled completely, so they were excluded from the final analysis. The final sample included 6 Professors, 50 Associate Professors, 53 Assistant Professors, 120 Post graduates. The aim and objectives of CPA was known to only 37.2% of the participants. About 63.7% were aware that consumers lodge a complaint without the presence of a lawyer. The least correct answers were given to questions related to which level compensation claim of Rs15 lakhs should be made, and who can give consent for examination for a 15 year old patient. When asked what should be done to the consent form after treatment is over, 66.7% of professors, 80.8% of associate professors, 96.6% of assistant professors and 77.7% of post graduate students were aware that it should be preserved by the dentist. The maximum correct answers were given by the professors. Discussion & Conclusion In the present study, although the majority of subjects were aware of CPA, the analysis of data revealed that some misconceptions among the subjects about the liability of the practitioners in various circumstances. To conclude, the authors advocated the need to update understanding of Consumer Protection Act and its amendments to be legally correct Top Keywords Consumer Protection Act, Awareness, Questionnaire study. Top |