Perceived variations in dental graduate competency outcomes based on demographic variables

ABSTRACT

The 30 final competencies required to be possessed by a dental graduate to be identified as a 'safe' health professional practicing dentistry in the community have already been validated and grouped into five overarching integrative themes i] Clinical competence, confidence and a multidisciplinary approach; ii] Role of dental house officer in the health services; iii] Treatment Planning; iv] Attitude, ethical stance and legal responsibilities and v] Communication Skills, information handling and teaching. These themes encompass all three domains of cognition, affect and skills. The purpose of this study was to identify variations in the acceptability of the 30 competencies amongst the three stakeholders, the students, the public and the faculty based on gender and demographic socioeconomic variables. 1876 students in the three public and seven private dental colleges were administered a questionnaire eliciting responses in the 30-item dental graduate competency document. 103 Faculty of the affiliated dental colleges and 173 general public were included in the survey. The response rate was 95% in students, 85% in public and 92% in faculty. Variations in the perceived value in each item and overall were identified within each group based on gender, socioeconomic status, educational background, urban/rural setting and public/private work place settings. These differences are real and will be encountered by the junior dental practitioner in his/her practice and should therefore be factored in to the educational outcomes: