title: A survey of self-perceived educational needs of general dental practitioners in the Merseyside region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-perceived educational needs of a randomly selected group of general dental practitioners (GDPs) in the Merseyside region (UK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-seven GDPs were randomly selected from 850 in the region and asked to complete a self-evaluation questionnaire regarding their self-perceived educational needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five (86%) responded, of which 52 (69.3%) were male and 23 (30.7%) female. There was no significant difference in self-perceived knowledge in any of the dental disciplines when gender and period of time since qualification were used as predictor variables. The majority of the GDPs felt they had a good knowledge of restorative dentistry and dental radiography. Some of the GDPs felt they had poor knowledge in implant dentistry, oral medicine, orthodontics, dental sedation techniques, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics and dental radiography. None of the respondents felt they had poor knowledge in restorative dentistry, prosthodontics and paediatric dentistry. Seventy-four (98.7%) of the responding GDPs were motivated to attend continuing professional development (CPD) courses because of an interest in a particular dental discipline and only one reported attending out of personal learning needs. Implant dentistry was indicated by 30 (40.0%) of the respondents as their training programme of choice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The respondents had high self-perceived knowledge of restorative dentistry, dental radiography, periodontics, endodontics, paediatric dentistry and prosthodontics. The respondents had low self-perceived knowledge of implant dentistry, orthodontics, oral medicine and dental sedation techniques. Of GDPs surveyed, 98.7% applied for courses they liked to attend, rather than needed to attend. Fifty-two per cent of male GDPs surveyed expressed a desire for training in implant dentistry.
authors: Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Liverpool, UK. finlaysutton@another.com
authors: Finlay
authors: F
authors: Sutton
authors: Zvi N
authors: ZN
authors: Ellituv
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Seed
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D003757:Dental Implantation / Q000193:education; D003814:Dentistry, Operative / Q000193:education; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D004708:Endodontics / Q000193:education; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D019242:Oral Medicine / Q000193:education; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000193:education; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000193:education; D010517:Periodontics / Q000193:education; D011476:Prosthodontics / Q000193:education; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education; D012737:Sex Factors; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000193:education; D013997:Time Factors