Factors influencing the quality of undergraduate clinical restorative dentistry in the UK and ROI: the views of heads of units.
In the light of concerns regarding expanded student intakes and reported workforce difficulties, a 2008 survey of heads of departments of restorative dentistry in UK and ROI dental schools sought to clarify the current situation with regard to: workforce configuration; barriers and facilitators of quality undergraduate clinical restorative dentistry; and, implications of the above for programme delivery. The response rate was 100% for the workforce statistics and 65% for the remainder of the survey. Findings were largely consistent across the 14 schools. Workforces were increasingly part-time with a shortage of full-time academics. While resources had generally expanded to meet increased student numbers and outreach teaching had augmented clinical learning, difficulties in recruiting patients and communicating with a fragmented workforce were risking the quality of undergraduate curricula. Issues to be addressed include a pervading sense of teaching being undervalued and staffing being sub-optimal.
Martin
N
N
Academic Unit of Restorative Dentistry, School of Clinical Dentistry, The University of Sheffield, Claremont Crescent, Sheffield, S10 2TA. n.martin@sheffi eld.ac.uk
Fairclough
A
A
Smith
M
M
Ellis
L
L
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000592:standards*; D003814:Dentistry, Operative / Q000193:education*; D003815:Dentists / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005179:Faculty, Dental / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D010361:Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D000078329:Workforce