An investigation of the acceptability of undergraduate supervision by Senior House Officers and General Professional Trainees.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed whether Senior House Officers (SHO)/General Professional Trainees (GPT) are, or would be, comfortable supervising clinical undergraduates, whether they find this to be a valuable experience within their training programme, and whether undergraduates are or would be comfortable with SHO/GPTs supervising them.


METHODS
Questionnaires were distributed to fourth and final year students at Glasgow and Dundee Dental Schools and fourth year students at Newcastle Dental School. Questionnaires were also distributed to SHO/GPTs at Glasgow Dental Hospital and School and Edinburgh Dental Institute.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine per cent of respondent SHO/GPTs were currently not involved in the supervision of undergraduates within their present rotation, 65% of whom stated that they would value the experience of this within their training. Of those involved in supervision, 83% found the experience valuable. Forty-four per cent of students were unsure or not comfortable with SHO/GPTs supervising within an oral surgery department and approximately the same in other departments. Twenty-eight per cent of respondents felt that university lecturers should be the main trainer.


CONCLUSIONS
SHO/GPTs value supervising undergraduates as part of their training experience. More than half of students are comfortable with SHO/GPTs supervising them. Both groups suggest that SHO/GPTs should receive some form of training in teaching prior to supervising undergraduates.
Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. leitch@bigfoot.com
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Soldani
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003798:Dental Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom