Continuing dental education: evaluation of the effectiveness of a disinfection and decontamination course

Aim: To evaluate a disinfection and decontamination dental postgraduate course run by the Wales Dental Postgraduate Deanery between 2008 and 2010. Methods: Pre‐ and post‐course multiple choice questionnaires were completed by 1177 course attendees. Mean scores before and after participation on the training course were compared and analysed. Results: Mean pre‐course score was 45.3%, rising to 87.0% in the post‐course assessment, reflecting an improvement of 41.8%. Prior to training, 30.7% achieved a satisfactory score of 13/20 (65%) compared to 98.3% on completion of training. Dental technicians were found to score significantly lower than other occupation groups both before and after course attendance. Decade of graduation had no effect on results. Theoretical microbiology was the question area which showed least improvement. Conclusion: Attending the disinfection and decontamination course significantly improved participants’ knowledge. Theoretical microbiology, as a topic area, may be targeted for improvements in future courses to improve results further.     

A review of continuing professional development for dentists in Europe

Aim: To summarise findings from a literature review of dentists’ engagement in continuing professional development (CPD) and its effects on improving oral health care for patients. Method: The search strategy used key terms in a range of databases and an academic literature search engine, complemented by hand searching and citation follow‐up. Results: One hundred and fourteen papers were reviewed. The majority of dentists engaged in CPD. Factors affecting participation included time since graduation, costs, work and home commitments, postgraduate qualification, interest and convenience. Learning needs identification and reflection on practice were rarely evidenced. Common modes of CPD were courses and journal reading; no one delivery method proved more effective. Few papers directly explored recommendations for topics although suggestions related to common areas of error and gaps in knowledge or skill. Studies of CPD effectiveness and impact‐on‐practice suggested that courses can result in widespread new learning and considerable self‐reported change in practice. However, significant barriers to implementing change in workplace practice were noted and included availability of materials, resources and support from colleagues. Conclusion: To ensure high standards of care, alongside recommending core or mandatory topics, more attention should be given to reflection on learning needs, the learner’s readiness to engage with education and training and the influence of the workplace environment.     

A study of videoconferencing for postgraduate continuing education in dentistry in the UK – the teachers'' view

Videoconferencing is an established method for providing medical education over long distances. Our aims were to assess the feasibility of videoconferencing in dental postgraduate education, to evaluate its practicability, teacher satisfaction and evaluate equipment. Twenty-seven teachers from the 4 London Dental Schools provided 41 postgraduate dental education sessions on a range of topics to regional postgraduate centres and dental practices as part of the Thames Health Region's programme. Videoconferencing was carried out using a relatively inexpensive personal computer system link using ISDN2 telephone lines and Z350 protocol. Presenter views and assessment were obtained by questionnaire, interview and videotape. Teachers felt that minimal additional preparation time was required for videoconferencing and 21/27 preferred it to in-person teaching, most noting the saving in travel time. Only 3 of the teachers were dissatisfied with their ability to communicate, 4 were equivocal and 20 were either pleased or very pleased. The teachers largely enjoyed the experience and performed well in the new medium. However, sound quality proved inadequate in 5/41 links and most sessions included some periods of suboptimal sound. Only 4 teachers were satisfied with their ability to perform question and answer interaction with the audience. We conclude that experienced teachers adapt readily to videoconferencing and learn to communicate effectively very quickly. Teachers were positive about the medium despite its shortcomings and improvements in sound quality would allow a rapid expansion of postgraduate dental education by videoconference.     

Estimates of the Effects of a Statewide Sealant Initiative on Dentists' Knowledge and Attitudes

The effects of a statewide initiative promoting the use of dental sealants were evaluated by assessing dentists' knowledge and attitudes before the initiative and 18 months later. Immediate changes also were determined for participants in continuing education (CE) sessions, a principal component of the initiative. Results of these assessments indicate that minor improvements in knowledge and attitudes occurred, that the effects were stronger but still modest for those dentists who participated in CE sessions, and that respondents believed the initiative had resulted in increased use of sealants. This evaluation highlights the need for controlled assessments of the effectiveness of future promotional campaigns.     

Investigation of the operative response of a group of general dental practitioners to varying extents of proximal caries.

The aim of this investigation was to assess the operative response of a representative sample of Irish General Dental Practitioners of various times since qualification to carious lesions of varying extent in both approximal surfaces of a lower left first molar tooth. 82 General Dental practitioners participated. The dentists were asked to treat 2 manikin teeth for minimal caries on both approximal surfaces extending to the enamel dentine junction, 2 teeth for caries extending approximately to half the thickness of the dentine and 2 teeth for caries extending more than 3/4 of the dentine thickness. Weight measurements were made of the tooth substance cut away. Mean volumes of tooth material removed ranged from 21 mm3 for minimal caries to 76 mm3 for the largest amount of caries. A two-factor analysis of variance revealed that the type of cavity preparation the dentist used had a significant effect on the volume of tooth material removed for all three extents of caries. Time since graduation had a significant effect on the volume of tooth material removed for the least extent of caries, but not for the other categories of carious involvement.     

Continuing professional development amongst dental practitioners in the United Kingdom: how far are we from lifelong learning targets?

This study was conducted to identify the extent to which qualified dental practitioners in the UK currently undertake three distinct activities of Continuing Professional Development (CPD): reading professional journals; attending courses; and undertaking retraining courses. Also, to determine the impact of gender, age, length of time since qualification, current working hours and career breaks upon the extent to which dental practitioners engage in CPD. Data were analysed from a questionnaire survey of a systematic sample of one in 10 dentists taken from the Dentists Register of the UK General Dental Council. The response rate was 66.6%. Only dentists practising at the time of the survey were included in the analysis (N = 1550). A high proportion of the sample reported regularly undertaking activities related to CPD. Approximately 87% read professional journals at least once per month; just over half had attended five or more days at professional meetings and courses in the last year. Only a small proportion of dentists (12%) had undertaken a retraining course in the past three years. Those dentists who had been qualified for between 21 and 30 years, those who had gained additional qualifications after qualifying as a dentist, and those who had taken a career break at some point in their life were more likely to read professional journals. Attendance at postgraduate dental courses was related to being male, not having taken a career break, possessing an additional qualification, longer working hours, and not being a General Dental Practitioners (GDP). Attendance at a retraining course was less likely for those who had taken a career break, those who had attended fewer courses in the last year and for those who worked 30--40 h per week. A large proportion of dental practitioners are currently undertaking sufficient CPD to meet the UK requirements of recertification. Greater attention should be directed towards identifying the barriers to CPD among female dentists and those who have been qualified for longer periods. More research is needed in assessing the long-term CPD consequences of those who have returned to dentistry following a career break.     

A survey on the preference for continuing professional dental education amongst general dental practitioners who attended the 26th Asia Pacific Dental Congress

AIMS: To identify the subjects of interest and to examine the modes as well as means of study for continuing professional dental education amongst general dental practitioners who attended the 26th Asia Pacific Dental Congress, 28 May-1 June 2004, Hong Kong. METHODS: A total of 381 general dental practitioners as the registered conference delegates from Hong Kong, Mainland China and other Asia-Pacific regions were randomly selected for the present survey. The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews by a group of practising dentists in Hong Kong. RESULTS: Overall, orthodontics and prosthodontics were the most popular subjects for clinical degree programmes, whilst oral implantology and cosmetic dentistry were the highly preferred subjects for continuing education courses. Concerning the preferred mode of study for degree programmes, the part-time study mode was chosen by 68.3% of the participating dentists. A didactic teaching approach was preferred by most of the participants (81.7%) for postgraduate study. The majority of the interviewees (76.5%) were interested in a proposed clinical degree programme to be offered jointly by The University of Hong Kong and a leading university in the Mainland. Overall, there was no marked difference in the preference for continuing dental education amongst the respondents from Hong Kong, Mainland China and other Asia-Pacific regions. CONCLUSIONS: The present survey shows the currently preferred specialty areas and subjects for continuing professional dental education amongst the general dental practitioners who attended the 26th Asia Pacific Dental Congress, with didactic teaching as the most preferred mode of study on a part-time basis.     

Continuing dental education in radiation protection: knowledge retention following a postgraduate course

Objective: To evaluate medium‐term knowledge retention of dental personnel following attendance at a postgraduate course in radiation protection. Subjects and methods: Knowledge was measured using identical pre‐ and post‐course validated single best‐answer multiple‐choice instruments, administered immediately before and after training and at follow‐up at 6 or 12 months. These comprise 16 questions each with 5 choices. The range of possible scores was from 0 to 16, and scores were scaled to percentages. Participants were predominantly dental practitioners, but a minority consisted of dental care professionals (dental nurses, hygienists and therapists). Of 285 participants, 272 (95.4%) completed both pre‐ and post‐course questionnaires. One hundred and seventeen (43%) of these also completed the follow‐up test, but only 109 (40%) individuals could be linked to the original course. Results: Mean (standard deviation) pre‐, post‐course and follow‐up‐corrected percentage scores were 39.1 (16.1), 74.6 (16.9) and 58.9 (22.7), respectively. There was attrition in knowledge at follow‐up: the average increase in adjusted score after training was 35.5 points, but only 56% of this was retained at follow‐up. Paired t‐tests confirmed that the mean score at follow‐up was firmly intermediate between the pre‐ and post‐course scores. Of the 109 participants, 7 (6%) achieved a satisfactory score pre‐training, 82 (75%) immediately post‐training and 41 (38%) at follow‐up. There were gross differences between the levels of performance achieved for the eight subject areas tested. Conclusion: Immediate post‐course assessments have indicated that current postgraduate courses in radiation protection are effective. However, a substantial amount of knowledge is lost by 6–12 months following course attendance. To achieve long‐term knowledge retention, early or repeated reinforcement may be necessary.     

3.1 Scholarship and the university

Universities now exist in an environment of increasing accountability for their academic performance, both in teaching and research. Dental schools are expected to meet the academic expectations of their parent university and, in addition, to contribute to the health-care needs of the community. Individual staff members must achieve collectively the performance targets required of their school and individually must develop skills and expertise in their academic and clinical activities to merit tenure and promotion. This discussion examines the issues which impact on current problems of recruitment and retention of academic staff in dental schools internationally. The essential issue is career development in a manner which maintains the values that will ensure the credibility of dentistry as a scientifically based discipline and profession, while balancing the achievable academic needs with the added demands of achieving specialist clinical skills. Central to this balance is recognition that scholarship, which provides the bridge between research and teaching, can be broadly defined and that different individuals can be scholarly in a range of ways. Increasingly, schools are recognizing the importance of providing structured opportunities and guidance for career development of younger staff and of the need for flexibility in their criteria for tenure and promotion, recognizing that a diversity of individual strengths and teamworking are necessary both for the collective performance of the institution and the morale and development of the individual.     

Prediction of periodontal treatment capacity

This study analyzes factors having influence on dentists' capacity to give periodontal therapy. The data was collected by the questionnaire from 134 randomly selected Finnish dentists. The effects were examined by two- and multiway frequency tables. The results indicated that the time since graduation had the strongest single effect. Also the prediction categories dealing with continuing education and scientific interest were related to periodontal capacities of dentists. The combined effects of certain variables as sex, type of position and place of practice indicate that the cumulation of certain favourable factors is needed to accomplish periodontal therapy in Finland. It was concluded that the promotion of periodontal care can be realized reliably by improved levels of undergraduate and postgraduate education.     

An evaluation of CASES – an educational audit programme for orthodontists

A regional approach to a national clinical audit programme in orthodontics in the UK is described and evaluated. The programme was designed using the CRISIS criteria for effective continuing education. Programme participants completed duplicate questionnaires on 6 simulated patient scenarios, chosen for their relevance to everyday practice while posing important clinical dilemmas. The participation rate was 77% from hospital-based practitioners and 29% from specialist practitioners. Feedback to programme participants was given in the form of histograms, and provided a snapshot of national approaches to patient investigation, treatment and expected outcomes. A commentary on the data and references to appropriate articles in the literature were included. Evaluation of the programme by questionnaire survey showed that it was extensively used by hospital-based practitioners. It is concluded that the model used provided an effective and efficient framework for conducting clinical audit and delivering continuing education to the hospital-based group.     

Continuing dental education in osseointegrated implants. A survey

A survey of participants in a continuing education course in osseointegrated implants was carried out to determine dentists' attitudes toward such courses and how they were integrating implants into their everyday practice. The results indicated, despite the intense program, very few general dentists who attended such a course chose to actively participate in implant placement and a moderate number chose to carry out prosthetic restoration. Those who attended such courses appeared satisfied with the course content, appreciated the difficulties involved with implant placement and restoration and generally chose to refer such cases to appropriate specialists for management. This pilot study confirms dental implants are a popular and accepted mode of therapy. However, general dental practitioners who take the time to undergo specific training in osseointegrated implants appear to be less inclined to actively participate in the placement (surgery) of implants. Following appropriate training, many general practitioners felt comfortable in performing the restorative/prosthetic aspect of implant treatment for single tooth rather than partial or full denture cases. In conclusion, while continuing education courses in osseointegrated implants are becoming increasingly popular, this survey indicates participants become aware of the complexity of the procedures involved and tend to actively participate mainly in the prosthetic reconstruction of simple cases.