IADR Abstract Archives
AQUISITION of DENTAL COMPETENCIES and CLINICAL SKILLS: PERCEPTIONS FROM STUDENTS, FACULTY, PRACTICING DENTISTS, and INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Objectives: This study examined the perceptions of multiple stakeholder groups regarding the current curriculum used in dental schools within the Dominican Republic (DR), and how well it helps students acquire critical competencies and clinical skills.
Methods:
The research design was a quantitative approach using online and hard copy surveys and a convenience sample method. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, summary scores, a univariate ANOVA, and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR). Models with different sets of predictors were evaluated using model fit statistics.
Results: This study revealed a general agreement between the four stakeholder groups regarding acquiring competencies and clinical skills by DR dental students. Dental student's overall average preparedness to practice dentistry effectively was fairly good (M=4.96, SD=1.07; on a 6.0 scale). Despite these findings, significant differences were found regarding the competencies, clinical skills, program components, and university participants's origin. There were several strong predictors of competencies and clinical skills acquisition. Regarding the students, the competencies predictors were: the clinical practices of Operative Dentistry, the predictors for Clinical Skills acquisition were related to the university, the clinical practices in Oral Surgery, and the preclinical courses of Prosthodontics. Regarding the practicing dentists, the predictors for competencies were: the preclinical courses of Dental Anatomy, Pediatric Dentistry, Endodontics, and the clinical practices of Oral Surgery, that were also predictors for clinical skills acquisition. Regarding the faculty, the predictors for competencies and clinical skills were: the clinical practices of Prosthodontics and Periodontics. Overall, the findings revealed that the university attended was a predictor for competency achievement.
Conclusions: I suggest creating both a National Advisory Board for Dental Education, and a Board of Advisors at every dental school to provide feedback to improve preclinical and clinical courses.
Methods:
The research design was a quantitative approach using online and hard copy surveys and a convenience sample method. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, summary scores, a univariate ANOVA, and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR). Models with different sets of predictors were evaluated using model fit statistics.
Results: This study revealed a general agreement between the four stakeholder groups regarding acquiring competencies and clinical skills by DR dental students. Dental student's overall average preparedness to practice dentistry effectively was fairly good (M=4.96, SD=1.07; on a 6.0 scale). Despite these findings, significant differences were found regarding the competencies, clinical skills, program components, and university participants's origin. There were several strong predictors of competencies and clinical skills acquisition. Regarding the students, the competencies predictors were: the clinical practices of Operative Dentistry, the predictors for Clinical Skills acquisition were related to the university, the clinical practices in Oral Surgery, and the preclinical courses of Prosthodontics. Regarding the practicing dentists, the predictors for competencies were: the preclinical courses of Dental Anatomy, Pediatric Dentistry, Endodontics, and the clinical practices of Oral Surgery, that were also predictors for clinical skills acquisition. Regarding the faculty, the predictors for competencies and clinical skills were: the clinical practices of Prosthodontics and Periodontics. Overall, the findings revealed that the university attended was a predictor for competency achievement.
Conclusions: I suggest creating both a National Advisory Board for Dental Education, and a Board of Advisors at every dental school to provide feedback to improve preclinical and clinical courses.