Dentists’ requirements for continuing professional development in Ireland. A pilot
study conducted at University College Cork

Stewart, Christopher; Kinirons, Martin

Dentists’ requirements for continuing professional development in Ireland. A pilot study conducted at University College Cork

Files

CPD_Paper_JIDA_2015.pdf(57.75 KB)

Published Version

Date

2015-03

Authors

Stewart, Christopher

Kinirons, Martin

Publisher

Irish Dental Association

Abstract

Aims: 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. Method: 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.

Keywords

Dental continuing professional development , CPD , Postgraduate dental education

Citation

Stewart C. and Kinirons M. (2015) 'Dentists’ requirements for continuing professional development in Ireland. A pilot study conducted at University College Cork', Journal of Irish Dental Association, 60 (1), pp. 40-44.