Dentists' requirements for continuing professional development in Ireland. A pilot study conducted at University College Cork.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the self-assessed continuing professional development (CPD) needs of dental practitioners and identify how each discipline can best be served by a dental CPD programme. To set findings in the context of the available literature and contribute to the development of CPD programmes.


METHODS
Topics were arranged into eight disciplines: practice management; paediatric dentistry; preventive dentistry; orthodontics; behaviour management; dentistry for people with a disability; oral medicine and surgery; and, restorative dentistry. A web-based questionnaire was constructed and administered using a MarkClass 2.21 online survey tool.


RESULTS
Fifty-six self-reported assessment responses were received, with three-quarters of participants having graduated within the past 10 years. Topics in oral medicine and surgery attracted consistently high levels of interest. A tendency to favour topics with a perceived direct clinical application was observed. Topics recommended by the Dental Council as core areas for CPD were given a high level of priority by respondents.


CONCLUSIONS
Traditional lectures remain a valued mode of CPD participation. Practical courses were valued across all dental topics offered. A varied approach to determining the requirements of dentists is essential to appropriately support the practitioner.
Christopher
C
Stewart
Martin
M
Kinirons
D032763:Behavior Control / Q000379:methods; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D003814:Dentistry, Operative / Q000193:education; D003815:Dentists; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D020380:Needs Assessment; D019242:Oral Medicine / Q000193:education; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000193:education; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000193:education; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011215:Practice Management, Dental; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000193:education; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000193:education; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods