IADR Abstract Archives
New Dentists’ Application of Pre-doctoral Learning and Practice in Radiography
Objectives: The United Kingdom (UK) General Dental Council (GDC) says that new graduates will have the range of skills required to begin working as part of a dental team and be well prepared for independent practice. The GDC publication ‘Preparing for Practice’ says that on graduation Foundation Dentists (FDs) in a dental foundation training (DFT) programme should be able to: (i) explain and apply the scientific principles of medical ionizing radiation and statutory regulations and (ii) undertake relevant special investigations and diagnostic procedures, including radiography. The primary purpose of DFT is to produce competent, caring practitioners who can consistently provide safe and effective care for patients in a primary care setting.
Methods: A questionnaire survey of newly-graduated FDs in two postgraduate deanery DFT programmes, in Wales and the southwest of England, asked about their experience of undergraduate (pre-doctoral) education in dental and maxillofacial radiology and their confidence in the use and interpretation of imaging techniques in early independent practice. The questionnaire used a number of Likert-style questions. Results were analysed by an experienced statistician.
Results: 130 (83%) of questionnaires were returned. The dentists graduated from the UK (93%) and from elsewhere in Europe (7%). All were in their first year of independent practice. Most survey participants were very confident/reasonably confident in their knowledge from teaching they had received in dental radiography, and in using the more common radiology techniques, and in radiation protection. They were less confident in the uncommonly used techniques such as oblique lateral and lateral cephalometric views.
Conclusions: This study is encouraging in that new dental graduates say that their undergraduate (pre-doctoral) education has given them the knowledge to be able to take, interpret and make clinical diagnoses using the commonest radiological investigations. This study tends to validate the undergraduate education received and identifies areas to improve.
Methods: A questionnaire survey of newly-graduated FDs in two postgraduate deanery DFT programmes, in Wales and the southwest of England, asked about their experience of undergraduate (pre-doctoral) education in dental and maxillofacial radiology and their confidence in the use and interpretation of imaging techniques in early independent practice. The questionnaire used a number of Likert-style questions. Results were analysed by an experienced statistician.
Results: 130 (83%) of questionnaires were returned. The dentists graduated from the UK (93%) and from elsewhere in Europe (7%). All were in their first year of independent practice. Most survey participants were very confident/reasonably confident in their knowledge from teaching they had received in dental radiography, and in using the more common radiology techniques, and in radiation protection. They were less confident in the uncommonly used techniques such as oblique lateral and lateral cephalometric views.
Conclusions: This study is encouraging in that new dental graduates say that their undergraduate (pre-doctoral) education has given them the knowledge to be able to take, interpret and make clinical diagnoses using the commonest radiological investigations. This study tends to validate the undergraduate education received and identifies areas to improve.
