Participatory continuing dental education.

The significance of continuing education for the development of a professional person is indisputable. There is evidence that participatory continuing education is the most effective form for this activity to take in relation to dentists and clinical practice. Working Group 15, appointed by the FDI Commission, specifically studied this form of continuing education by use of a questionnaire to 26 representative national dental associations. The majority of countries surveyed have at least some education of this sort although it forms only a small proportion overall. Little evaluation seems to take place to measure the subsequent value to the practitioners attending. The results of the information gathered are discussed and recommendations are made.