Impact of Gender Identity on Dentists' Clinical Decision-Making

NCT07675564 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: CAEE 55339221.3.0000.5346
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 204
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Clinical Decision-Making; Gender Identity; Transgender Persons

Keywords

Transgender Persons; Gender Identity; Clinical Decision-Making.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Treatment Recommendation for Posterior Tooth

  Treatment recommendation for tooth 26 based on the assigned clinical case. Available options included endodontic treatment followed by direct composite restoration, endodontic treatment followed by indirect ceramic restoration, or extraction.

  Immediately after questionnaire completion

• Treatment Recommendation for Anterior Tooth

  Treatment recommendation for tooth 11 based on the assigned clinical case. Available options included no intervention, repair of the composite restoration, replacement of the restoration, direct composite veneer, or indirect ceramic veneer.

  Immediately after questionnaire completion

Study Arms (2)

Transgender Woman Case

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants evaluated a hypothetical dental clinical case in which the patient was identified as a transgender woman. Clinical information, complaints, and treatment options were identical to the comparison arm.

Behavioral: Clinical Case Scenario

Cisgender Woman Case

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants evaluated a hypothetical dental clinical case in which the patient was identified as a cisgender woman. Clinical information, complaints, and treatment options were identical to the comparison arm.

Behavioral: Clinical Case Scenario

Interventions

Clinical Case Scenario BEHAVIORAL

Participants were randomly assigned to evaluate one of two versions of a hypothetical dental clinical case. The cases contained identical clinical information, photographs, complaints, and treatment options, differing only in the patient's gender identity. One version described a transgender woman and the other described a cisgender woman. Participants selected treatment recommendations based on the assigned scenario.

Cisgender Woman Case; Transgender Woman Case

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Professionally active dentists.
• Able and willing to provide informed consent.
• Practicing dentistry during the data collection period.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidade Federal de Santa Maria: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, 97501-650, Brazil

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants were blinded to the primary objective of the study and were unaware that patient gender identity was the variable of interest. The informed consent form was modified to avoid revealing the specific focus of the research. In addition, the statistician responsible for data analysis remained blinded to group allocation throughout the analytical process.
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Graduate Researcher

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to evaluate one of two versions of the same hypothetical dental clinical case. The cases were identical regarding clinical findings, photographs, complaints, and treatment alternatives, differing only in the patient's gender identity. One group evaluated a case involving a transgender woman, while the other evaluated a case involving a cisgender woman. Treatment recommendations were compared between groups to assess whether patient gender identity influenced clinical decision-making.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 22, 2026
• First Posted: June 30, 2026
• Study Start: September 12, 2023
• Primary Completion: April 9, 2024
• Study Completion: April 9, 2024
• Last Updated: June 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BR (1)