威尔士牙医继续教育活动评估。

School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, Cardiff University, University Dental Hospital and School, Cardiff, UK.

Eur J Dent Educ. 2013 Feb;17(1):e49-55. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2012.00757.x. Epub 2012 May 18.

INTRODUCTION

Ongoing professional education is essential for dental professionals to maintain and update their clinical skills and knowledge. There is a current trend towards mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for dentists within Europe and beyond. Mandatory CPD will ensure high professional standards and enable mobilisation of the dental workforce within Europe. In 2002, the UK General Dental Council (GDC) implemented a system of mandatory CPD for dentists practicing in the UK. The Wales Deanery is situated in the School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, Cardiff University. It provides verifiable CPD courses for dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs) currently practicing in Wales and has recorded professionals' attendance on these courses since 2001. The project aimed to investigate the CPD activity of dentists in Wales, using these data.

METHODS

The Wales Deanery database holds data on the CPD courses undertaken by 1178 dentists working in Wales since 2001. A number of hypotheses were investigated using a variety of statistical methods.

RESULTS

Dentists were undertaking significantly fewer hours of CPD in Mid and West Wales compared to the North and South of the principality. Sole practitioners were found to engage in less CPD than those in group practices, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. Dentists who employed a hygienist or therapist completed more hours of CPD than those who didn't employ either. There were no gender differences in engagement in CPD. CPD participation was consistently and significantly higher in mid and late career than in early career.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a greater understanding of the CPD habits of the dental workforce in Wales. Practice staffing levels, location of practice and time since graduation were found to have the greatest impact on engagement in CPD activity. These findings will be used by the Deanery to inform future education provision for dental professionals in Wales.

简介

持续的专业教育对于牙科专业人员来说至关重要，这可以帮助他们保持和更新临床技能和知识。目前，欧洲乃至其他地区都有对牙医进行强制性继续专业发展（CPD）的趋势。强制性 CPD 将确保高标准的专业水平，并使欧洲的牙科劳动力能够流动。2002 年，英国牙科理事会（GDC）为在英国执业的牙医实施了强制性 CPD 制度。威尔士教务长位于卡迪夫大学研究生医学和牙科教育学院。它为目前在威尔士执业的牙医和牙科保健专业人员（DCP）提供可验证的 CPD 课程，并自 2001 年以来记录了专业人员参加这些课程的情况。该项目旨在利用这些数据调查威尔士牙医的 CPD 活动。

方法

威尔士教务长数据库保存了自 2001 年以来在威尔士工作的 1178 名牙医参加 CPD 课程的数据。使用各种统计方法对多项假设进行了调查。

结果

与公国的北部和南部相比，中西部威尔士的牙医从事的 CPD 时间明显较少。个体经营者发现比在集团实践中的牙医从事的 CPD 少，但这些差异没有达到统计学意义。雇用保健师或治疗师的牙医完成的 CPD 时间比不雇用任何一种的牙医多。在参与 CPD 方面没有性别差异。在职业生涯中期和后期，参与 CPD 的人数持续且显著高于早期。