A survey of general dental practitioners' postgraduate education activity and demand for extended modular postgraduate programmes.

The aim of this paper is to assess the level of involvement of general dental practitioners in postgraduate education and training, identify their speciality interests, preferred format of course presentation and assess the potential demand for modular postgraduate programmes. A questionnaire analysis of a one in three random sample of general dental practitioners on Health Authority lists in the North West of England and North Wales was designed and carried out. Out of a random sample of 799, 552 GDPs completed an anonymous questionnaire in 1998 which investigated their current postgraduate activity, the areas of specialist interest and their interest in extended modular postgraduate education courses with associated summative assessment. Fifty three percent of respondents attended more than four postgraduate sessions per year of whom the majority (59%) were in 35-44 year old age group. 79% identified Section 63 courses as their first preference and 63% preferred mixed didactic and 'hands on' courses. Seventy five percent of respondents expressed an interest in attending modular programmes which might lead to a postgraduate qualification. In conclusion, an enthusiasm to attend existing postgraduate courses was identified but a demand was also perceived for courses of longer duration possibly leading to additional postgraduate qualifications.

Dental hygienists' attitudes towards dental care for people with a mental handicap and their perceptions of the adequacy of their training.

A survey was undertaken among a group of dental hygienists to investigate potential barriers to providing dental care to people with mental handicap. Barriers similar to those indicated in studies on dentists were shown to be experienced by hygienists. Concerns were mainly related to perceived problems with communication and lack of understanding of the client group, rather than lack of cooperation of the patient. Degrees of concern in treating handicapped patients were shown to be related to type of handicap. Twenty-five (73.5%) of the hygienists surveyed (n = 34) felt that the training they had received, in relation to preparing them to work with mentally handicapped people, was inadequate; 28 (82%) felt that special training was necessary, over and above general hygienist training. However, most hygienists (73.5%) felt more positive about treating people with mental handicaps after a period of post-qualification work experience.

Use and effect of clinical photographic records on the motivation and oral hygiene practices of a group of mentally handicapped adults.

A study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that clinical photographic records can be used to motivate oral hygiene performance in mentally handicapped adults. Plaque reduction over the period of the study was shown to be higher in the test group than the control group but differences between the test and control groups were not statistically significant. The small numbers involved (29) and the difficulties in matching subjects may have mitigated against demonstrating a statistically significant difference between the two groups. All participants demonstrated high levels of toothbrushing ability during the practical aspects of the study but this was not maintained through daily oral hygiene practices in the majority of subjects.