Impact of Gender Identity on Dentists' Clinical Decision-Making

This randomized study evaluated whether patient gender identity influences dentists' clinical decision-making. Dentists in southern Brazil were randomly assigned to receive one of two versions of the same hypothetical dental clinical case. The cases were identical except for the patient's gender identity, which was presented as either a transgender woman or a cisgender woman. Participants selected treatment options for anterior and posterior teeth and completed questionnaires regarding professional characteristics and knowledge about transgender health. The primary objective was to determine whether patient gender identity influenced treatment recommendations. Differences in clinical decision-making between groups were analyzed using regression models.

Inclusion Criteria: * Professionally active dentists. * Able and willing to provide informed consent. * Practicing dentistry during the data collection period. Exclusion Criteria: * Dentists not actively practicing during the data collection period. * Dentists who participated in the pilot study. * Individuals who declined participation or did not provide informed consent.