The Impact of Transition of Paper-Based Consent Forms to Digital Format on Dental Healthcare Efficiency

Objective: To evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of patients of different ages and education levels regarding the transition of paper-based consent forms to digital format. Methods: Ninety-four patients were divided into three groups according to their age range (18–39, 40–59, over 60) as well as education level (primary/secondary school, high school, university). Participants were administered a digital consent form along with an online questionnaire aimed at determining perceptions and attitudes of patients towards paper-based and digital consent. Demographic data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Pearson’s Chi-Square test was used to compare the answer rates between patient groups categorized according to age ranges and educational levels (p=.05). Results: 79.8% and 90.4% of participants reported that converting paper-based consent forms to digital format would be more advantageous for the workflow of healthcare services and in terms of functionality and usability, respectively. The proportion of participants stating they had sufficient knowledge about informed consent was higher in the university graduate group (p