title: Development of undergraduate gerodontology courses in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany from 2004 to 2009.
abstract: The growing number of individuals over the age of sixty-five with specific dental needs requires increased teaching efforts to adequately prepare predoctoral dental students. The study assessed whether such increases in undergraduate gerodontology teaching in German-speaking countries between 2004 and 2009 occurred. Questionnaires were mailed in 2004 and 2009 to all deans (n=37) and all department heads (n=140) of Austrian, Swiss, and German dental schools. Results show that gerodontology is still mostly included in traditional core subjects but that specific lecture series and practical teaching have increased. These cover a broad variety of subjects including geriatric medicine, gerontopsychiatry, nursing care, pharmacology, and public health. The number of departments with dedicated staff for gerodontology, research activities, and mean number of publications has increased. Barriers to the further integration of the subject include its continued exclusion from final examinations in Austria and Germany. Guidelines of the European College of Gerodontology (2009), which aim to prepare students to provide dental treatment to seniors by teaching theoretical knowledge, practical skills, patient management techniques, and the ethical foundation of gerodontology, need to be implemented. Continued professional education of faculty in all departments, intensified cooperation between universities, and the presence of faculty specializing in gerodontology are suggested.
authors: University of Leipzig, Department of Prosthodontics and Materials Science, Liebigstraße 12, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Ina
authors: I
authors: Nitschke
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Kunze
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Reiber
authors: Bernhard A J
authors: BA
authors: Sobotta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum / Q000639:trends; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D018865:Dental Research / Q000193:education; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000639:trends*; D004499:Education, Dental, Graduate / Q000639:trends; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D004990:Ethics, Dental / Q000193:education; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D005850:Geriatric Dentistry / Q000193:education*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000193:education; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D016730:Program Development; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education; D013557:Switzerland; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Austria; Germany; Switzerland; dental education; geriatric dentistry; gerondontology