RESUMEN
Development of dental faculty members is paramount to providing outstanding education and role modeling for students. With the large number of second career educators in dental schools, an efficient method of acquiring teaching skills is important for new faculty members. Knowing the skill progression and learning experiences identified by dental educators of varying rank may lead to more efficient, effective faculty development. The aims of this study were to identify the perceptions of a group of faculty members about the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and learning experiences that contribute to developing teaching expertise and to compare and contrast the perceptions of new and more senior faculty members on these subjects. The Dreyfus skill acquisition continuum of novice to expert performance was used as a construct reference. The study used a mixed-methods approach in which qualitative and quantitative data were collected concurrently in an electronic survey of faculty members at one U.S. dental school. Of the 492 total faculty members, 80 survey responses were received, for a 16% response rate. Open coding and analysis of responses revealed some common themes. Building rich content knowledge and learning varied methodologies for teaching and assessment, supported by an awareness of peer role models, were perceived to be features of early growth. Content prioritization, clarity, and customization appropriate for the learner characterized mid growth. As theorized in the Dreyfus model, more experienced faculty members described a fluid, less structured teaching process, increased reflection, and appreciation of the strength of the educational community. The results of this study may help increase dental educators' understanding of teaching skill acquisition and inform faculty development and support.
Asunto(s)
Educación en Odontología/métodos , Docentes de Odontología/educación , Enseñanza/educación , Humanos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Enseñanza/normasRESUMEN
This study explored the rate of underreporting of bloodborne exposures among dental students in a U.S. dental school during the final two years of clinical practice. It also explored the reasons students cite for failing to report bloodborne exposures. Surveys of the dental students found that senior students reported only 43 percent of the exposure incidents they experienced in their final year of clinical education and that the rate of reporting declined from the junior year to the senior year. We subsequently undertook an educational campaign to raise awareness among the students regarding the importance of reporting exposure incidents. Surveys were repeated for the next two years at the end of each academic year. The following year, the senior class indicated they had reported 79 percent of the experienced exposure incidents. This was not only a significant improvement over the previous year, but also demonstrated an improvement in reporting from their junior year to senior year, reversing the previously noted trend for exposure reporting to drop off in the senior year.
Asunto(s)
Patógenos Transmitidos por la Sangre , Clínicas Odontológicas , Notificación de Enfermedades/estadística & datos numéricos , Exposición Profesional/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudiantes de Odontología/estadística & datos numéricos , Actitud del Personal de Salud , California , Humanos , Facultades de Odontología , Estudiantes de Odontología/psicologíaRESUMEN
Leadership opportunities are all around us as dental professionals. In fact, dentists may not realize the expectations that are placed on them as health care professionals to provide leadership. This article will address the various stages of a dentist's career giving examples of leadership opportunities and responsibilities that a dentist encounters, with ideas as to how these might be approached and managed.
Asunto(s)
Odontólogos , Liderazgo , California , Relaciones Comunidad-Institución , Educación en Odontología , Humanos , Legislación en Odontología , Grupo de Atención al Paciente , Administración de la Práctica Odontológica , Competencia Profesional , Sociedades OdontológicasRESUMEN
Dental schools establish quality assurance (QA) programs that are intended to improve patient care, comply with requirements of liability carriers and regulatory agencies, and maintain accreditation. Data collection, trend analysis, and interventions are typically used in QA programs to monitor and improve compliance. The purpose of this article is to discuss unfavorable trends and examine the effect of targeted interventions in three clinical operations: infection control, removable prosthodontics, and case reviews of students' patient care in progress (interim case reviews) at a U.S. dental school. Infection control compliance was evaluated and interventions were implemented beginning in 2002 to correct unfavorable trends in two protocols: placement of students' mobile supply cart and the use of overgloves. A predelivery esthetic consent was introduced in spring 2004 to decrease esthetic failures in removable prosthodontics. For interim case reviews, two areas received interventions going back to 2003: reevaluation following initial periodontal therapy and orthodontic screening. The data presented are not meant to show conclusive success of particular interventions, but to display broad trends and suggest methods to manage quality assurance parameters. These trends suggest we had better success with the interventions that were simple, valuable, measurable, and repeatable than with interventions that less fit these criteria.