ANÁLISE DO CONHECIMENTO DE PROFESSORES SOBRE SUA RESPONSABILIDADE EM RELAÇÃO AOS TRABALHOS PRÁTICOS EXECUTADOS PELOS ESTUDANTES NAS CLÍNICAS DE UM CURSO DE GRADUAÇÃO EM ODONTOLOGIA

Abstract

Dental education requires students to acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, the latter conducted under the direct supervision of faculty members responsible for clinical procedures performed in university dental clinics. Such supervision involves legal responsibilities in civil, criminal, and administrative spheres, making it essential that educators understand their legal obligations to avoid potential liabilities. This study aimed to analyze the knowledge of faculty members at the dental clinics of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) regarding their professional responsibilities in supervised procedures. This is a descriptive, exploratory, and cross-sectional study with a quali-quantitative approach. A total of 22 faculty members participated, responding to a structured questionnaire after signing the informed consent form (CAAE nº 74946923.5.0000.5208). Results showed that 60% of participants correctly defined the legal spheres, but only 36.4% were able to identify the competent authorities responsible for judging clinical incidents. Furthermore, only 3 out of the 13 professors who correctly defined the spheres demonstrated full knowledge regarding the appropriate institutions. The participants' profile revealed a mean age of 51.3 years and an average time since graduation of 29.3 years, with all holding doctoral degrees. Despite their high academic qualifications, the findings indicate significant gaps in legal understanding related to supervised dental practice. It is concluded that the legal knowledge of supervising faculty is insufficient, which may expose both professionals and institutions to legal risks. Therefore, higher education institutions must promote training on legal aspects of dentistry to ensure greater legal security in clinical teaching practice.