Continuing dental education in radiation protection: monitoring the outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate an evolving radiation protection dental postgraduate course run in Wales between 2003 and 2007.


METHODS
We compared three standardized course series. Course content was enhanced in 2006 to target areas of weakness. In 2007, a single best answer multiple choice questionnaire instrument superseded a true/false format. Practitioners' performance was studied pre- and immediately post-training. 900 participants completed identical pre- and post-course validated multiple choice questionnaires. 809 (90%) paired morning-afternoon records, including those of 52 dental care professionals (DCPs), were analysed.


RESULTS
Mean (standard error) pre- and post-course percentage scores for the three courses were 33.8 (0.9), 35.4 (1.4), 34.6 (1.0) and 63.6 (0.9), 59.0 (1.4), 69.5 (0.9). Pre-training, only 2.4%, 3.1% and 4.9% of participants achieved the pass mark compared to 57.7%, 48.4% and 65.9% post-training, indicating a rather greater pass rate and gain in the most recent series than earlier ones. In recent series, older more experienced candidates scored slightly higher; however, their gain from pre- to post-training was slightly less.


CONCLUSIONS
Baseline levels of radiation protection knowledge remained very low but attending an approved course improved this considerably. Targeting areas of weaknesses produced higher scores. Current radiation protection courses may not be optimal for DCPs.
Absi
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School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, Cardiff University, University Dental Hospital & School, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK. absieg@cf.ac.uk
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Thomas
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Newcombe
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Nash
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D003149:Community Dentistry / Q000193:education; D032882:Comprehension; D003479:Curriculum; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000193:education; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital; D003815:Dentists; D004496:Education, Continuing; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000193:education; D006283:Health Physics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011870:Radiologic Health / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales