Perceived learned skills and professional development of graduates from a master in dental public health programme.
BACKGROUND
Assessing the impact of a training programme is important for quality assurance and further development. It also can helps with accountability and marketing purposes. This study evaluated the impact of King's College London (KCL) Master of Science programme in Dental Public Health in terms of graduates' perceived learned skills and professional development.


METHODS
An online questionnaire was sent to individuals who completed successfully the KCL Master of Science programme in Dental Public Health and had a valid email address. Participants provided information on demographic characteristics, perceived learned skills (intellectual, practical and generic) and professional development (type of organisation, position in the organisation and functions performed at work before and after the programme). Learned skills' scores were compared by demographic factors in multiple linear regression models, and the distribution of responses on career development was compared using nonparametric tests for paired groups.


RESULTS
Although all scores on learned skills were on the favourable side of the Likert scale, graduates reported higher scores for practical skills, followed by intellectual and generic skills. No differences in scores were found by sex, age, nationality or time since graduation. In terms of career development, there were significantly higher proportions of graduates working in higher education institutions and taking leadership/managerial roles in organisations as well as greater number and variety of functions at work after than before the programme.


CONCLUSIONS
This online survey shows that the programme has had a positive impact on graduates in terms of perceived learned skills and professional development.
Division of Population and Patient Health, King's College London Dental Institute at Guy's, King's College and St Thomas Hospitals, London, UK.
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Aslam
Division of Population and Patient Health, King's College London Dental Institute at Guy's, King's College and St Thomas Hospitals, London, UK.|Departamento de Odontología Social, Facultad de Estomatología Roberto Beltrán Neira, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú.
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Delgado-Angulo
Division of Population and Patient Health, King's College London Dental Institute at Guy's, King's College and St Thomas Hospitals, London, UK.
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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1858-3713
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Bernabé
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004499:Education, Dental, Graduate; D040381:Education, Public Health Professional; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
alumni survey; dental workforce; postgraduate training; public health dentistry