Continuing professional development amongst dental practitioners in the United Kingdom: how far are we from lifelong learning targets?

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the extent to which qualified dental practitioners in the UK currently undertake three distinct activities of Continuing Professional Development (CPD): reading professional journals; attending courses; and undertaking retraining courses. Also, to determine the impact of gender, age, length of time since qualification, current working hours and career breaks upon the extent to which dental practitioners engage in CPD. Data were analysed from a questionnaire survey of a systematic sample of one in 10 dentists taken from the Dentists Register of the UK General Dental Council. The response rate was 66.6%. Only dentists practising at the time of the survey were included in the analysis (N = 1550). A high proportion of the sample reported regularly undertaking activities related to CPD. Approximately 87% read professional journals at least once per month; just over half had attended five or more days at professional meetings and courses in the last year. Only a small proportion of dentists (12%) had undertaken a retraining course in the past three years. Those dentists who had been qualified for between 21 and 30 years, those who had gained additional qualifications after qualifying as a dentist, and those who had taken a career break at some point in their life were more likely to read professional journals. Attendance at postgraduate dental courses was related to being male, not having taken a career break, possessing an additional qualification, longer working hours, and not being a General Dental Practitioners (GDP). Attendance at a retraining course was less likely for those who had taken a career break, those who had attended fewer courses in the last year and for those who worked 30--40 h per week. A large proportion of dental practitioners are currently undertaking sufficient CPD to meet the UK requirements of recertification. Greater attention should be directed towards identifying the barriers to CPD among female dentists and those who have been qualified for longer periods. More research is needed in assessing the long-term CPD consequences of those who have returned to dentistry following a career break.

Gender differences in dentists’ working practices and job satisfaction

“…Male dentists were also more active in other forms of continuing education, as indicated by memberships of dental societies, regularity of reading dental journals and attendance at formal continuing professional development than their female colleagues. Recent UK findings are not clear as to whether women read professional journals less frequently than men, 19,24 although female dentists have been reported to spend less time at continuing education courses than males. 24 This is of concern as dentists who do not attend continuing education sessions are at increased risk of professional isolation.…”

A review of continuing professional development for dentists in Europe*

“…half-day, full-day) differ or are not specified. Furthermore, although the majority of these studies looked at courses undertaken in the previous year (4,25,31,33,34,(39)(40)(41)43), some looked over a 2-year period (28,29,35,36) and one considered intentions (10). Review of CPD for dentists Barnes et al To understand more about the reasons for the variation in engagement with CPD, studies that reported factors relating to CPD uptake were scrutinised.…”

Participation in continuing professional development by Victorian dental practitioners in 2004

“…13 These results are similar to those of Buck and Newton, who found that a large proportion of dental practitioners were currently undertaking sufficient CPD to satisfy the UK General Dental CouncilÕs proposed requirements for recertification. 14 The aims of this study were to: (1) determine attitudes to CPD amongst registered Victorian dental personnel; (2) determine participation in various forms of CPD by registered Victorian dental personnel, including perceived barriers to participation; and (3) determine attitudes to the DPBVÕs Code of Practice on CPD by registered dental personnel.…”